A Tamil Nadu Village Fights Back: The Thiruchendurai Waqf Land Dispute and the Supreme Court Intervention.

A Tamil Nadu Village Fights Back: The Thiruchendurai Waqf Land .

In a startling twist to the ongoing legal battle over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, a native of Thiruchendurai village in Tamil Nadu has stepped forward to support the controversial law. The individual, Sreeman Chandrasekar, has filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court of India, shedding light on what he calls one of the most shocking instances of land being claimed as Waqf property.

Thiruchendurai, a village near Trichy with over 300 acres of land, has become the center of an intense legal and religious debate. According to Chandrasekar, the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board has laid claim to the entire village, including five temples and agricultural lands owned by generations of Hindu families. One of these temples is the ancient Chandrasekara Swamy Temple, believed to be around 1500 years old—even older than the Islamic faith itself, which originated around 1400 years ago.

Chandrasekar, a political historian, psephologist, author, and TV panelist, is not just making legal arguments—his intervention is deeply personal. His family has roots in Thiruchendurai dating back to the 1930s. He recalls how in September 2022, the village was shaken by an unexpected and distressing revelation: the Waqf Board had listed the entire village under its jurisdiction.

The issue came to light when a local farmer, hoping to sell part of his land to fund his daughter’s wedding, was denied permission by the Sub-Registrar. The officer reportedly informed the farmer that he could only proceed with the land sale after obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Waqf Board—an order that stunned the entire community.

In his application, Chandrasekar states:

"The applicant has his land in the village of Thiruchendurai and the Waqf Board's claim over the entire village as its own property has deeply impacted him. It is one of the most shocking cases where a whole village’s land is claimed as Waqf property."

This intervention adds a powerful dimension to the writ petition filed by Maulana Arshad Madani, President of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, who is challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the matter on May 15, under a bench led by Justice B.R. Gavai.

The case raises critical questions about land rights, religious property claims, and the transparency of Waqf Board proceedings. It also spotlights the need for clear land records and legal safeguards for individuals, especially in rural areas, where traditional ownership and religious claims may collide.

As the nation watches, Thiruchendurai’s villagers await justice—not just for their homes and lands, but for the heritage and traditions they have preserved for centuries.