Karnataka Land Crisis: Farmers Caught in Waqf Property Dispute

The Karnataka government's order to halt land mutations related to Waqf properties aims to alleviate farmers' distress amid rising land claims by the Waqf Board. The move impacts ancestral lands in various districts, notably Vijayapura, affecting farmers’ livelihoods and historic sites.

The Karnataka government has issued a directive warning officials against altering land mutation records or issuing eviction notices to farmers under the Waqf Act, threatening disciplinary action for non-compliance. This comes in response to the growing concern over large swathes of farmland being categorized as Waqf property.

According to an order dated November 9, all eviction notices must be withdrawn immediately, and land mutation orders reversed to protect farmers' interests. These decisions follow a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah following numerous complaints about land transfers to the Karnataka Board of Waqfs.

In Vijayapura district, more than 15,000 acres of land, including important traditional and religious sites, have been claimed by the Waqf Board, causing widespread unrest. Such claims have affected vital farmland in Tikota and Babaleshwar Taluks, placing local farmers and their ancestral rights in jeopardy.

(With inputs from agencies.)