A native of Thiruchendurai village in Tamil Nadu, Sreeman Chandrasekar, has approached the Supreme Court supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 amid an ongoing legal battle over the village’s land. Chandrasekar filed an intervention application in response to the writ petition by Jamiat leader Maulana Arshad Madani, who is challenging the Act.
Chandrasekar claims that the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board has declared the entire Thiruchendurai village, covering over 300 acres, as Waqf property. This includes the Chandrasekara Swamy Temple, a historical structure around 1500 years old. He highlighted the inconsistency in the Waqf Board’s claim, stating that while the temple is over a millennium old, Islam as a religion is 1400 years old.
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"The applicant has his land in Thiruchendurai, and the Waqf Board claims the entire village as its own property, affecting the applicant. This is one of the most shocking cases where the entire village land is claimed by the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board," Chandrasekar's application reads.
Chandrasekar’s family has historical ties to the village, with his father being among the oldest residents. The dispute intensified in September 2022, when villagers discovered that the Waqf Board had declared their lands, including five temples, as Waqf property. The issue came to light when a local farmer was asked to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Waqf Board to sell his land for his daughter's wedding.
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The application further asserts that the villagers have valid Encumbrance Certificates for their properties dating back to 1950. Chandrasekar’s mother's property was reportedly bought in 1917 from a retired High Court Judge, further challenging the Waqf Board’s claim.
"Shockingly, the Sub-Registrar office allowed the registration of the sale of claimed lands of the Waqf Board, exposing the misuse of the 'Waqf by User' provision under Section 3(r)(i) of the Waqf Act 1995," the application states.
The villagers raised their concerns with the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, but their objections were dismissed with the statement, "Once a waqf, always a waqf." This response left thousands, including Chandrasekar, uncertain about their property rights. Despite having legal documents, villagers struggle to exercise their ownership rights, while the Waqf Board continues to assert its claim without providing substantial evidence.
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The matter is set to be heard by a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai. Chandrasekar's intervention application has been filed through Advocate-on-Record (AoR) Rahul Shyam Bhandari and drafted by Advocates Rahul Shyam Bhandari and G Priyadharshi.
