Fact Check: Tamil Nadu has maximum Waqf properties? No, find the truth here

Hyderabad: The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, passed by the Parliament, amends the Waqf Act of 1995 to reform the management of Waqf properties. The government claims the new law is intended to enhance transparency, accountability and administrative efficiency.

However, the Opposition and several Muslim organisations argue that it infringes upon Muslim autonomy and constitutional rights. They contend that provisions such as the inclusion of non-Muslim board members and increased government oversight dilute community control, potentially enabling land seizures or the targeting of historic mosques and shrines, many of which lack formal documentation.

In this context, taking a dig at Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin and his party DMK—which was among the Opposition parties that voted against the bill—an X user shared a graph claiming that Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Waqf properties (66,092), followed by Karnataka (62,830), Kerala (53,282), Telangana (45,562), Gujarat (39,940), Maharashtra (36,701) and Madhya Pradesh (33,742).

Targeting CM Stalin, the user shared the poster with the data and wrote in Tamil, “This is your property – Stalin.” (Archive)

NewsMeter found that the claim is false, as Tamil Nadu ranks fourth in the total number of Waqf properties of all States/UTs.

We ran a relevant keyword search and came across a PIB press release dated April 3, 2025, titled “Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025: The History of Waqf in India.”

While the press release outlined several key amendments and traced the history of Waqf in India, it also cited data from the Waqf Assets Management System of India. According to this source, 30 States/UTs and 32 Waqf Boards have reported a total of 8.72 lakh Waqf properties, covering an area of over 38 lakh acres.

The release also included State-wise data on Waqf properties, and the figures cited by the X user align with those listed for several States. However, as per the government data, the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board ranked fourth, with 66,092 properties spread across 6,55,003.2 acres.

The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Board of Waqfs and the Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Board of Waqfs, with 2,17,161 and 15,386 properties (total 2,32,547 properties), respectively, together ranked first. They are followed by the West Bengal Board of Waqfs, which ranked second with 80,480 properties, and the Punjab Waqf Board, which ranked third with 75,965 properties.

A CNBC report dated April 4, 2025, provided the same numbers. The report stated that Uttar Pradesh holds the largest share of Waqf properties in India, accounting for 27 per cent of the national total with 2,32,547 properties. Other states with significant Waqf assets include West Bengal with 80,480 properties, Punjab with 75,965, Tamil Nadu with 66,092, and Karnataka with 62,830 properties. In contrast, Gujarat, Telangana and Kerala have comparatively fewer Waqf properties, with 39,940, 45,682, and 53,282 properties, respectively.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, as reported by The Siasat Daily on December 9, 2024, Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju stated that a total of 8,72,352 immovable and 16,713 movable Waqf properties have been registered across the country, based on data entered by respective State Waqf Boards on the Waqf Assets Management System of India (WAMSI) portal.

Uttar Pradesh leads with 2,32,547 immovable waqf properties, including 2,17,161 Sunni and 15,386 Shia properties. It is followed by West Bengal (80,480), Punjab (75,965), and Tamil Nadu (66,092). The report also noted that in terms of movable properties, Tamil Nadu has a maximum of 8,605 entries on the WAMSI.

What is Waqf?

Waqfs are a traditional form of Islamic charitable endowment in which a donor permanently dedicates property—often real estate, though not exclusively—for religious or philanthropic purposes. These endowments, some of which date back centuries, typically support institutions such as mosques, seminaries, graveyards and orphanages. Once designated as Waqf, the property becomes inalienable and cannot be inherited, sold or otherwise transferred.

What is the Waqf Act, 1995?

The Waqf Act, 1995, is the Central legislation that regulates the management and administration of Waqf properties in India. Under this Act, a Waqf is defined as “the permanent dedication of movable or immovable property for purposes recognised in Islam as pious, religious or charitable.”

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, revises the 1995 Waqf Act with the Central government claiming that it will improve the management of Waqf properties in India with enhanced transparency, accountability, and efficiency.

Key features include increased government oversight of waqf boards, the inclusion of non-Muslims as board members, mandatory regular audits for better financial accountability, and a focus on proper registration and documentation of Waqf properties, many of which previously lacked formal records.

Therefore, we conclude that the claim stating Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of Waqf properties is false.