What Happened
- The Tamil Nadu government constituted a Waqf Tribunal in Coimbatore, adding to the existing tribunal framework for adjudicating waqf property disputes in the state
- The constitution of this tribunal is linked to obligations arising from the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which overhauled the waqf regulatory framework in India and revised the composition and functioning of Waqf Tribunals
- Waqf Tribunals have quasi-judicial authority to resolve disputes involving waqf properties, waqf board administration, and claims over properties registered as waqf
- Tamil Nadu has a large waqf landholding: the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board administers thousands of waqf properties across the state, making the dispute resolution infrastructure critically important
- The Coimbatore tribunal is significant because Coimbatore and the surrounding region have been home to several high-profile waqf land disputes, including cases where agricultural land owned by farmers was claimed by the Waqf Board
- Tamil Nadu's state assembly had earlier passed a resolution opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill (before it became law), but the state is now constituting tribunals in compliance with the central legislation
Static Topic Bridges
Waqf and the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025
Waqf (Arabic: "endowment") is the Islamic practice of dedicating property — movable or immovable — permanently for religious, charitable, or pious purposes. Once dedicated as waqf, the property cannot be sold, donated, or transferred; only the usufruct (income from use) can be applied to the designated purpose. In India, waqf properties are administered under the Waqf Act, 1995, as amended.
- India has one of the world's largest waqf holdings: approximately 8.7 lakh registered waqf properties covering roughly 9.4 lakh acres, making it one of the largest landholders after the military and railways
- The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 — passed after prolonged parliamentary debate — introduced significant changes to the 1995 Act:
- Renamed the law: the parent Act is now called the "Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act" (UMEED)
- Removed the "waqf by user" provision — which had allowed properties to be declared waqf solely based on long-standing use for Muslim religious purposes, without formal dedication
- Required survey and verification of all waqf property claims before registration
- Mandated inclusion of non-Muslim members and women in Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council
- Revised Waqf Tribunal composition (see below)
- Required that disputes over government land being claimed as waqf be investigated by an officer above Collector rank
- Provided for technology integration: a centralised portal for waqf property management, audits, and litigation tracking
- Appeals: orders of Waqf Tribunals can now be challenged in the High Court within 90 days
Connection to this news: Tamil Nadu's constitution of the Coimbatore Waqf Tribunal is a direct step to operationalise the revised Waqf Tribunal framework mandated by the 2025 Amendment Act.
Waqf Tribunal: Composition, Powers, and Jurisdiction
Waqf Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies constituted by state governments under Section 83 of the Waqf Act, 1995. They have exclusive jurisdiction over waqf-related disputes — civil courts have no jurisdiction over matters the Waqf Act assigns to Tribunals.
- Pre-amendment composition (1995 Act): three-member bench — (i) a Judge of Civil Judge / District Judge rank (Chairman), (ii) a state government officer of Joint Secretary rank, and (iii) an expert in Muslim law and jurisprudence
- Post-amendment composition (2025 Act): reduced to two members — (i) a serving or former District Judge as Chairperson, (ii) a serving or former state officer of Joint Secretary rank; the requirement for a Muslim law expert has been removed (this was a major point of controversy)
- Tribunal's jurisdiction: disputes about waqf property boundaries and registration; removal of encroachments from waqf land; recovery of waqf property from third parties; disputes between mutawallis (waqf managers) and waqf boards; claims by individuals against waqf status of property
- Finality: Tribunal orders were previously final (not challengeable in civil courts); the 2025 amendment opened a route to High Court appeal within 90 days
- The exclusion of civil court jurisdiction (Section 85 of the original Act) has been constitutionally challenged multiple times; courts have held that where the Tribunal itself denies jurisdiction or where fundamental rights are at stake, writ jurisdiction of High Courts is not barred
Connection to this news: The Coimbatore Waqf Tribunal's constitution under the revised framework means it will operate with the amended two-member composition and the new provisions on government land investigation and High Court appeal rights.
State-Centre Tension Over Religious Endowment Legislation
Waqf regulation sits at the intersection of religious freedom (Article 25-26), minority rights (Article 29-30), state subject (Entry 10 of State List covers "trusts and trustees"), and the Centre's legislative power over minority institutions. The 2025 Amendment Act provoked intense debate about religious autonomy, minority rights, and the limits of parliamentary power over Muslim religious endowments.
- Several state governments — including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and West Bengal — passed resolutions opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill, arguing it interfered with Muslim religious practice and minority rights
- The Act was challenged in the Supreme Court; the court issued an interim order (September 2025) asking the government not to implement certain provisions pending hearing, particularly the removal of "waqf by user" and the mandatory inclusion of non-Muslims in waqf bodies
- Tamil Nadu's constitution of the Coimbatore tribunal, despite its prior opposition to the law, reflects the constitutional obligation of states to implement Central legislation regardless of political disagreement
- The contrast between Tamil Nadu passing a resolution against the law and then constituting a tribunal under it illustrates the federal structure: states can register disagreement, but Parliament's legislative competence over minority affairs (under concurrent and Union list entries) creates binding obligations
- Broader context: disputes between waqf boards and farmers/private landowners over waqf land claims have generated political controversy, particularly in Tamil Nadu where the Thiruchenthurai village case (where an entire village was claimed as waqf property) became a national flashpoint
Connection to this news: The Coimbatore tribunal's constitution occurs in a state that vocally opposed the 2025 law — but is legally bound to implement it; the tribunal itself becomes a key arena where the amended law's provisions will be tested through real disputes.
Key Facts & Data
- Waqf properties in India: ~8.7 lakh registered properties; ~9.4 lakh acres — one of India's largest landholders
- Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025: renames parent law as UMEED; removes "waqf by user"; adds non-Muslim members to waqf bodies; revised tribunal composition
- Waqf Tribunal composition (post-2025): 2 members — District Judge (Chair) + Joint Secretary-rank state officer (Muslim law expert requirement removed)
- Appeals: Tribunal orders now appealable in High Court within 90 days (earlier not challengeable in civil courts)
- Tamil Nadu had passed assembly resolution opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill
- Parent legislation: Waqf Act, 1995 (Section 83 — Tribunal constitution; Section 85 — exclusion of civil court jurisdiction)
- Supreme Court interim order (Sep 2025): stayed certain provisions of the Act pending hearing