Things are back to square one at the A.P. State Wakf Board. With none at the helm of affairs, files are gathering dust even as lobbyists are having a free run.
Ever since the appointment of M.J. Akbar as special officer was set aside by the High Court on March 25, things have come to a near halt at the Board. And while policy decisions in respect of important Wakf properties are hanging fire, the Board’s employees also have had a tough time drawing their salaries.
This month they got their pay packets 13 days late as in the absence of the Special Officer, the CEO is not empowered to draw the huge amount of Rs.65 lakh. Ultimately the Secretary, Minorities Welfare, intervened and authorised the CEO to draw the amount. The appointment of M.J. Akbar, whose term was extended in February, was challenged by the Anwarul Uloom Educational Association contending that it was in violation of the provisions of the Wakf Act, 1995. The High Court granted interim stay on the GO issued by the government on June 20, 2014 appointing Mr. Akbar.
TS draws AP ire
The indecision of the Telangana government in going for an appeal against the judgement has drawn the displeasure of the Andhra Pradesh government. Andhra Pradesh Secretary, Minorities Welfare Shaikh Mohd. Iqbal has written to his Telangana counterpart Syed Omer Jaleel to get the stay vacated immediately. If there is no response, the A.P. government plans to take the initiative and ask its Advocate-General to file an appeal. Since the Wakf Board has not been bifurcated yet, the A.P government can intervene, it is said. “In the absence of an administrator, the Wakf’s interest is suffering,” Mr. Iqbal said.
Awaiting KCR’s nod
Telangana officials say they are ready to appeal against the High Court order, but are awaiting the approval of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Authorities are reportedly considering setting up a three-member committee to look after the affairs of the Wakf Board as was done in the past. But the AP government is not in favour of such a committee. “There is no provision in the Act and the court will strike it down,” Mr. Iqbal remarked.
Meanwhile, encroachers are having a field day as there is none to check them. Retrieval of the encroached land has come to a halt, and so are cases pending in courts. All this is expected to dent the Board’s revenue.