Shrines Found Inside Jaipur's Maharani College Cause Land Encroachment Scandal

A land scandal that was unleashed at the ancient Maharani College of Jaipur has erupted following the uncovering of three Islamic shrines hidden inside the college campus. The finding of the religious shrines has raised an eyebrow over a suspected attempt at encroaching on state land using religious rights.

Dharohar Bachao Sanrakshan Samiti, a committee that works for conserving local heritage, protested strongly. Its president, Bharat Sharma, labelled the buildings as being a "planned conspiracy" to illegitimately occupy college land through clauses of the Waqf Act. In a video clip shot inside the college premises, Sharma instructs the administration to demolish the shrines, threatening that in case of failure to do so, public protests will ensue.

The shrines, reportedly located alongside the campus pump house and water tank, are managed by the institution. There is no known history, however, about when and how they were built and who ordered that they be built. Their covert existence had raised questions of whether their existence was ever forgotten or even not even known.

Attempts to contact the principal of the college have been futile till now. College officials, including the principal, refused to speak when India Today TV attempted to contact them. The silence of the administration has triggered more questions and curiosity among the common folk.

Maharani College, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Rajasthan, and the academic environment in which mind traditions are valued, are at the heart of a sensitive controversy that touches issues of contested ownership rights, religious freedom, and institutional accountability.

After controversy over the matter, there is a possibility of its being followed by broader controversy related to enforcement of land law, schools' role in protection of public property, and misuse of religious protection. The government has made no statement or probe into the source of the buildings.

Having their nerves already at a breaking point, the campus community and residents around are waiting for the answers of the education authorities and the government.