Allegedly illegal madrasa demolished 'voluntarily' in Madhya Pradesh's Panna: Report

An in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district was demolished “voluntarily” by its operators on Saturday, reported The Times of India.

Quoting unidentified administrative officials, the newspaper reported that the action was taken in light of the recent amendments to the Waqf Act.

The madrasa was said to have been functioning illegally for 30 years. The operators had reportedly been issued notices after complaints from Bharatiya Janata Party’s Madhya Pradesh unit chief VD Sharma.

The operator claimed that he had initially secured permission for the madrasa from the gram panchayat. However, the area was later incorporated in the jurisdiction of the municipal corporation, after which the structure was deemed illegal, according to The Times of India.

Unidentified officials told the newspaper that the madrasa had been constructed on government land.

A madrasa in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district was demolished on Saturday, becoming the first Muslim-owned structure to come under scrutiny under the newly implemented Waqf Amendment Act.

The madrasa, located in BD Colony and reportedly standing for nearly 30 years, was alleged by… pic.twitter.com/TnROW8Bjxo

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A waqf is a to a religious, educational or charitable cause under Islamic law. Each state has a waqf board led by a legal entity that is vested with the power to acquire, hold and transfer property.

The recent...