The tranquil village of Sihada in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa district is now at the center of a major land dispute, with the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board Tribunal claiming the entire village as its property. Notices have been served to the District Collector, Sarpanch, and Panchayat Secretary, compelling their appearance before the Tribunal in Bhopal on November 10. The tribunal’s stance is that the village, home to roughly 10,000 individuals, is Waqf land. This conflict arose after the Gram Panchayat informed a local Dargah committee that their structure was built on government land, earmarked for a new Panchayat complex. The Dargah committee then escalated the matter to the Waqf Board, which declared the land as registered Waqf property. Official documentation, specifically the state gazette dated August 25, 1989, allegedly lists the property under Waqf Board ownership, according to a Dargah committee official. He also noted the site’s antiquity, being approximately 300 years old and including sacred structures and a graveyard, making Panchayat intervention unlawful. Local officials, including the Sarpanch and Panchayat Secretary, have officially challenged the Waqf Board’s claim. They maintain the land is government-owned and essential for existing residential, religious, and public buildings. The potential ramifications are severe, with widespread fear that accepting the Waqf claim could lead to the eviction of many villagers. The Madhya Pradesh State Waqf Tribunal is slated to hear arguments and review evidence from both sides on November 10.
