Muslim body to approach court against Wakf Board

​Hyderabad: Plans are afoot to challenge the newly constituted body of TS Wakf Board in the High Court. Wakf activists have decided to knock the doors of court questioning the sanctity of the board being led by Mohammed Saleem, whose chairmanship was earlier superseded in 2004.

As per the Andhra Pradesh Gazettenotification published in 2004, Mohammed Saleem was leading as the chairperson, while Syed Ali Akber Nizamuddin and Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi were members of the Wakf Board.

Secretary Minority Welfare & Competent Authority of Wakf Syed Omer Jaleel was also one of its members. As per the Gazette notification 271 passed by the then secretary to Government, Dr Premchand, show cause notices were served on the board members, after the government found that State Wakf Board was unable to perform its duties as per the Wakf Act, 1995.

It was alleged that 137 agenda items were accumulated relating to the Wakf institutions, managing committees, Muthawallies from February 2004 to the end of year. “The agenda items were deferred for more than 4 times in the Board meetings on one pretext or the other, causing loss to the Wakf institutions.

The Wakf Board deferred other agenda items for more than five times without taking any decision which resulted in depriving the Board of the Wakf funds amounting to several lakhs of rupees,” the notification stated.

A meeting was conducted in obedience to the orders of the High Court, after one of the board members approached court. After examining the explanations and the minutes of the meeting of the Board, the Government came to the conclusion that there were ‘allegations’ and ‘counter allegations’ made by the chairperson as well as the members against each other. It was clearly established that there was no proper cooperation and coordination between the chairperson and the members.

It was also found that several agenda items of Wakf institutions, worth crores of rupees, were deferred and two members had also levelled charges against chairperson for grabbing Wakf land.

“The existing board does not have sanctity, as the board led by the same person was superseded earlier in 2004. Even this board remains incompetent in handling the Wakf affairs, putting in jeopardy crores of rupees of Wakf land. Hence we have decided to knock on the doors of the court by filing a writ petition,” said Association of Save Waqf Properties, general secretary, Syed Ifteqar Hussaini.

According to Association, the Board under the Chairmanship of Saleem, has failed to stop any of the constructions on Wakf properties including Nanabagh mosque or the construction by IAS official, Y Sreelakshmi, currently serving as Secretary in Public Enterprises Department.

“Even after his visit to Khanamet near Hi-tech City, the Chairman was unable to stop the construction. We do not want a board that winks at encroachment of Wakf lands. Hence, we have decided to challenge it,” said president of Association, Dastagir Khan.