Overview

• The Karnataka State Waqf Board has issued a notice claiming the M.K. Hostel in Mysuru is located on Waqf property, alleging encroachment and citing a nearby tomb as evidence.
• The hostel, built in 1916 and managed by the Vaanika Rathnam Kadabam Mannar Krishnaiah Shetty Trust, is historically tied to Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and Dewan Poornaiah, with no mosque on-site.
• Protests led by hostel residents, trustees, and BJP leaders, including Prathap Simha and L. Nagendra, demand the withdrawal of the notice, accusing the Waqf Board of unjust property claims.
• Hostel authorities and protesters argue that the Waqf Board lacks documentation to support its claims and threaten to pursue legal action to protect the property.
• The Waqf Board has set a May 9, 2025, deadline for a written response, as the dispute highlights broader concerns over Waqf property claims across Karnataka.