The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Wednesday accused Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal of “stalling” the constitution of the Delhi Waqf Board, which was dissolved in October 2016 on charges of “irregularities” by the former L-G.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, speaking to reporters at a press conference here, alleged that Mr. Baijal was using a Delhi High Court order as an alibi to not form the seven-member board, elections to which have been completed.
‘Showing undue interest’
Mr. Sisodia went on to question the L-G’s motive behind his objection and wondered why successive individuals occupying the post had shown “undue interest” in the affairs of the Board, which looks after the Waqf properties in the Capital.
The Deputy Chief Minister further alleged that the Imams employed by the Board, which comprises four elected and three nominated members, were being deprived of their salaries due to the continuing imbroglio.
The Delhi government nominates a social activist, an Islamic scholar and one of its officials as members to the Board.
The elected members are chosen by the mutawallis and the Bar Council, besides an MP and an MLA.
Mr. Sisodia alleged that Mr. Baijal had cleared the names of the three nominated members last month and the process for electing the rest was also complete.
“However, the Delhi High Court has ordered that one member, who is to be a Muslim Bar Council of Delhi representative, shall not be filled till further directions,” he said, but added that the order did not say that the formation of the Board should be halted. “The L-G is using that as an excuse to delay the process which is beyond our understanding,” Mr. Sisodia said.
Raj Niwas did not respond to the allegations levelled by the AAP government till late on Wednesday evening.
On October 6, 2016, the then L-G, Najeeb Jung, announced the appointment of its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and members of the Board as illegal and void ab initio , superseded as per procedure, and that it would be administered by a special secretary-level bureaucrat through an additional charge. The appointments in question were made by AAP Okhla MLA and former Waqf Board chairman Amanatullah Khan.
‘Violation of rules’
“In view of the deliberate and persistent acts of illegality, violation of rules, allegations of corruption, possibility of mala fide, etc., the whole matter related to the Delhi Waqf Board is referred to the CBI for investigation,” Raj Niwas had said in a statement.
The L-G had further directed Divisional Commissioner A. Anbarasu to set up a committee to review the legality and propriety of all decisions and action taken by the Board after its constitution in March, and submit a report within a month.
