A.Sheriff Abdullah v. The Tamil Nadu Waqf Board
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 30.07.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN and W.M.P.(MD)No.16192 of 2025 A.Sheriff Abdullah, President, Muslim Jamath Waqf, Kottaipattinam, Manamelkudi Taluk, Pudukottai District.
... Petitioner -vs1.The Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, Represented by its Chief Executive Officer, No.1, Jaffar Syrang Street, Vallal Seethakadi Nagar, Chennai -1.
2.The Chairman, The Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, No.1, Jaffar Syrang Street, Vallal Seethakadi Nagar, Chennai -1.
3.The Superintendent of Waqfs, Trichy Zone, Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, Trichy.
4.Janab Sadiq Ali 5.Janab Haja Mohideen 6.Janab Sheriff Abdullah 7.Janab Mohamed Farooq 8.Janab Mohamed Rowther 9.Janab Sheerkhan 10.Janab Syed Abudageer 11.Janab Kalandar Marakayar 12.Janab Abusalihu 13.Janab Mohamed Sheriff 14.Janab Rajamohamed 15.Janab Haroon Rasheed 16.Janab Mohamed Kasim 17.Janab Jagubarsadiq 18.Janab Salman Farris 19.Janab Abdul Khader 20.Janab Raja Mohamed 21.Janab Mohamed Salihu 22.Janab Kalandar Naina Mohamed
23.Janab Abdullah 24.Janab Jainulabudeen 25.Janab Imran Khan 26.Janab Imran 27.Janab Sadiq Ali 28.Janab Sahul Hameed 29.Janab Irfan 30.Janab Ahamed Kabeer 31.Janab Saleem Jafir 32.Janab Rebaludeen 33.Janab Imran Reyadeen ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the entire records in connection with the impugned proceedings of the second respondent in Se.Mu.Aanai.No. 12873/97/Aa5/Pudukai dated 25.07.2025 and quash the same. For Petitioner : Ms.G.Porkodi For R1 to R3 : Mr.D.S.Haroon Rasheed Standing Counsel
ORDER
This Writ Petition is being disposed of, at the admission stage itself after hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents 1 to 3 and after dispensing with notice on the private respondents namely, the respondents 4 to 33, as no adverse orders are proposed to be passed against them.
2. This is the second round of litigation at the instance of the petitioner. Earlier, the petitioner had approached this Court in W.P.(MD)No.20158 of 2025, which was disposed of by order dated 23.07.2025, directing the Waqf Board to consider and pass orders on the petitioner's representation dated 15.07.2025. The said representation was submitted seeking extension of the tenure of the existing administrative ad hoc committee of the Muslim Jamath Waqf, Kottaipattinam, until a decision was taken on the representation.
3. Immediately thereafter, on 25.07.2025, the second respondent / Chairman of the Waqf Board, constituted a Committee consisting of 31 members for conducting the Urs Festival scheduled between 26.07.2025 and 24.08.2025.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the respondents 10, 17, and 18 have caused damage to the Waqf property and as a result, a criminal case has been registered against them before the Kottaipattinam Police Station, Pudukottai, vide F.I.R. in Crime No.45 of 2025, dated 24.07.2025, for offences under Sections 296(b), 351(2), and 329(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
5. It is further submitted that the festival should be conducted under the supervision of the third respondent, namely, the Superintendent of Waqf, in coordination with the existing ad hoc committee, of which the petitioner is the Chairman. The petitioner contends that all arrangements for the festival were made by him and that the inclusion of certain other individuals in the newly formed committee has led to friction, thereby, affecting the smooth conduct of the festival.
6. The learned Standing Counsel for the respondents 1 to 3 submits that the third respondent will monitor the conduct of the festival.
7. Recording the aforesaid submission, the third respondent is directed to ensure that the festival is conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner, without any law and order issues among members of the congregation. The third respondent is at liberty to seek Police assistance if any disturbance or threat to peace and order is apprehended during the festival.
8. The third respondent may also take an appropriate decision as to whether the respondents 10, 17, and 18 should continue as members of the festival committee, in the light of the F.I.R. registered against them in Crime No.45 of 2025, dated 24.07.2025, pending before the Kottaipattinam Police Station, Pudukottai.
9. With the above directions, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. NCC : Yes / No 30.07.2025 Index : Yes / No smn2
To:- 1.The Chief Executive Officer, Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, No.1, Jaffar Syrang Street, Vallal Seethakadi Nagar, Chennai -1.
2.The Chairman, The Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, No.1, Jaffar Syrang Street, Vallal Seethakadi Nagar, Chennai -1.
3.The Superintendent of Waqfs, Trichy Zone, Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, Trichy.
C.SARAVANAN , J.
smn2 W .P.(MD)No.20921 of 2025 30.07.2025