Centuries-old hostel in Mysuru receives contentious notice from WAQF, sparks controversy
BENGALURU:
Breaking News: An unexpected turn of events for the century-old Narayana Shettar Dharma Students' Home on Vinoba Road, Mysuru city – a recent notice by Karnataka State Waqf Board has laid claim to the land on which this historically significant hostel stands. The notice, dated April 3, 2025, demands a written response by May 9, 2025, at the Board office on Cunningham Road, Bengaluru city.
Extremely puzzling, indeed! The hostel in question, M.K. Hostel, is managed by the Vaanika Rathnam Kadabam Mannar Krishnaiah Shetty Trust. The historical significance of the hostel isn't unknown- inscribed on a stone plaque on the wall, dated March 11, 1916, it reads "Sri Sampangi Rama Prasanna-Sarap Kadabada Narayana Shettar Dharma Students Home."
Upon entering the hostel, a notice from the Waqf Board can be found at the entrance. This notice supports the Board's claim over the property, measuring 54 feet east-west and 100-feet north-south, equaling 3,268 square feet in Devaraja Mohalla. Although mainly used as a hostel, it also houses several shops rented out to tenants.
A protest ignited by former Lok Sabha member Pratap Simha and Trust members such as C. Mannar Krishanaiah Shetty, Ramachandra Sheety, and others, was held in front of the hostel. They firmly demanded the withdrawal of the notice, questioning its legitimacy and labeling it as "unauthorized." The Trust members argue that the land for the hostel was granted to them by the then Maharaja of Mysore, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. Carrying a sense of curiosity, they ponder, "How can this be Waqf property?"
Challenging the Waqf Board's decision, these Trust members didn't shy away from hinting at possible legal actions. This current dispute may seem like a replay of a couple of months back, when similar notices questioning ownership of agricultural fields, temples, and schools were served across the state.
The legal landscape lingers in uncertainty regarding the ultimate outcome of this contentious case, with local news reports and court records being the primary sources for updates on the situation's progress and resolution.
- As the legal battle unfolds, some investors are showing keen interest in the real-estate market of Mysuru, given the ambiguity surrounding the M.K. Hostel's ownership.
- In the midst of this controversy, the finance industry is closely monitoring the situation, as the resolution could potentially impact similar cases involving Waqf properties in the real-estate sector across Karnataka.
