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Whose ‘Dham’ Is It Anyway? Karnal’s Pucca Pull caught in Waqf Board row

PIL in Punjab and Haryana High Court alleges a family-run trust has seized control of the revered site, misusing over ₹1 crore in donations

The PIL, filed through advocates Namit Khurana and Rahul Dahiya, claimed that despite repeated representations to the authorities earlier this year, no inquiry or action was initiated. (File)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Haryana government on a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging large-scale irregularities in the management of Pucca Pull Dham, a religious site in Karnal district, where a private family-run trust is accused of misappropriating donations worth over ₹1 crore annually.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry sought the state’s response on the petition filed by Ravinder Kumar, a resident of Uncha Samana village in Karnal. The petitioner has alleged that a trust headed by a former sarpanch and his family members was illegally formed during the COVID-19 lockdown in June 2020 to take control of Pucca Pull Dham and its donations, without any legal backing, transparency or community participation.

The PIL, filed through advocates Namit Khurana and Rahul Dahiya, claimed that despite repeated representations to the authorities earlier this year, no inquiry or action was initiated. The petitioner has sought a court-appointed administrator to oversee the trust’s functioning during the case’s pendency, along with directions to dissolve the existing body and form a lawful trust under proper procedures.

Among the reliefs sought is a probe into alleged financial misappropriation, a full audit of all donations collected since 2020, and restoration of the property’s possession to the Haryana Waqf Board, which, according to the petition, is the rightful owner established through prior judicial decisions.

The land where Pucca Pull Dham stands—recorded as Khasra No. 92 has a protracted legal history. The trial court in 2009 had decreed ownership in favour of the Waqf Board, and subsequent revisions were dismissed by the High Court in 2015, declaring the Gram Panchayat’s possession illegal. The Supreme Court later upheld these findings in 2016 when it dismissed the special leave petitions.

The petitioner has also pointed to notifications issued by the Centre in 1960 and 1961 that vested certain Muslim trust properties with the Waqf Board, with the Pucca Pull Dham site formally recorded as Waqf land in 1970 and mutations completed by 1983.

The plea describes the formation of the current trust as a “family-controlled setup” constituted without any public notice or documentation, effectively placing a public religious site under private dominion. It further alleges that the absence of transparency in accounting for donations and expenditures not only undermines public faith but violates statutory norms governing charitable endowments.

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Claiming administrative inaction despite multiple representations—on January 20 and May 2 this year—and unsatisfactory responses to RTI queries, the petitioner argued that judicial intervention was now essential to ensure accountability and protect the sanctity of the site.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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