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Row over dual posts for Minorities Dept Secy
Highlights
Civil society organisations are planning to file a public interest litigation (PIL) against appointment of the Secretary of Minorities Welfare Department as Competent Authority.
Hyderabad: Civil society organisations are planning to file a public interest litigation (PIL) against appointment of the Secretary of Minorities Welfare Department as “Competent Authority.”
The critics have said the secretary is holding two posts - one as Special Officer of the Wakf Board and the other Secretary of Minorities Welfare.
When the State was passing through the pangs of bifurcation, the Governor, instead of conducting the elections for the Board, appointed Special Officer (Competent Authority) on ad hoc basis.
Syed Omer Jaleel, Secretary, Minorities Welfare Department under G O Ms No 44, which was issued on October 19 last year, was appointed as the Competent Authority of Board, for a period of six months or till Board elections are held.
The Section 26 of the Wakf Act 1995 has specified that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) may refer any resolution adopted by the Board to the State government, if he considers that such a resolution was unlawful. But, in this case the official is holding the posts of both Competent Authority and Secretary.
“Under these circumstances the democratic functioning of the Board cannot be guaranteed as the decision-making authority and monitoring authority is one and the same, said Osman bin Mohammed Alhajiri, president, Deccan Wakf Properties Protection Society.
Osman, who represented the case to the Chief Minister, stressed the need to ensure that the same officer does not act both as Secretary of the Minorities Welfare Department and Competent Authority. This, he said, was necessary to protect the interests of Wakf Board.
While another NGO, Association of Save Wakf Properties, complained to the Chief Secretary that the functioning of Wakf Board came to a standstill since the Special Secretary was entrusted with the responsibility of the Competent Authority. “Files have piled up,” said Syed Ifteqar Hussaini, general secretary of the Association.
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