Poonch Waqf Board Custodian Land: Serious concerns have been raised in Poonch district regarding the alleged misuse and encroachment of Muslim graveyards, Sufi shrines, and custodian land, prompting renewed calls for immediate intervention by the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board.
POONCH MIRROR NEWS DESK JANUARY 25,2026
A strong public demand has emerged in Poonch district.
Residents are urging the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board to immediately assume custody of graveyards, shrines, and custodian land amid allegations of misuse. Poonch Waqf Board
Furthermore,properties situated on custodian land, amid allegations of misuse, encroachment, and non-religious activities carried out in the name of faith.
However,local residents and civil society members have expressed deep concern.The absence of regulation has allowed misuse and political interference.
According to them, this vacuum has allowed politically motivated individuals and informal groups to exploit religious spaces for personal influence, financial gain, and activities that are inconsistent with Islamic teachings and the spiritual ethos of Sufism.
Observers allege that several revered mazars of Sufi saints considered symbols of spiritual harmony and social cohesion are witnessing practices that lack both Shariah justification and ethical legitimacy.
These shrines were meant for spiritual guidance, remembrance of Allah, and service to humanity. Instead, in some cases, they are being reduced to centres of dominance and commercialisation, said a senior religious observer from Poonch.
Another major issue highlighted is the growing trend of individuals declaring themselves as self-appointed custodians or ‘owners’ of graveyards and shrines, without any legal mandate or recognised authority.
This, locals claim, has resulted in arbitrary management, lack of transparency in donations, unauthorised constructions, and even restrictions on public access to religious spaces.
Custodian Land Under Scanner
Particular concern has been raised over religious institutions and structures reportedly constructed on custodian land in Poonch city.
Moreover,residents allege that several buildings have been erected in the name of religion without proper verification of land status, statutory approvals, or clarity regarding their long-term public benefit.
Civil society members have demanded a comprehensive audit of such institutions to determine whether they comply with land laws and whether their activities genuinely serve the welfare of the community.
This is not about opposing religion; it is about preventing its misuse. Custodian land is a legal trust, and its exploitation under any pretext undermines both law and faith, a local activist remarked.
Previous report on Waqf property encroachments in J&K
Demand for Legal and Institutional Action
Poonch Waqf Board: Legal experts point to existing laws. These laws entrust the Waqf Board with safeguarding such properties for the Muslim community.
Proper registration, demarcation, and governance of graveyards and shrines under the Waqf framework, they argue, would ensure accountability, preservation of sanctity, and lawful utilisation of resources.
Residents are urging the Waqf Board to initiate an immediate district-wide survey of all graveyards, shrines, and religious structures in Poonch, followed by formal takeover wherever applicable.
They have also called for strict action against encroachers, unauthorised caretakers, and those found diverting religious properties from their intended charitable and spiritual purposes
Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board (official site)
Way Forward
However،community elders believe that timely intervention could help restore the spiritual dignity of these sacred sites while preventing future legal disputes and social tensions.
If managed transparently and lawfully, these properties can once again become centres of unity, charity, and moral guidance, said a senior citizen from the town.Poonch Waqf Board
Therefore, as debates around protection of religious heritage and lawful management of Waqf and custodian land intensify across the region, attention is now firmly focused on the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board and concerned authorities to take decisive and corrective action in Poonch.Poonch Waqf Board
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