The State Minorities Commission on Monday approached the High Court filing a writ petition praying the Court to direct CBI inquiry into “misappropriation, misuse, illegal sale and transfer of thousands of acres of Wakf properties” in the twin States. About 40 per cent of Wakf properties in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are currently under encroachment and alienation, the Commission stressed.
The writ petition has as parties Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the two Wakf boards, Secretaries of Minorities Welfare Departments of both the States and Chief Secretaries of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The commission in its writ has pointed at large scale encroachments of wakf properties which dates back to the past 32 years. “The commission in a prima-facie enquiry has found 15 cases of encroachment of Wakf properties which were done in collusion with the officials of the Wakf Board,” Abid Rasool Khan, Chairman of the Commission said at a media conference in the city on Monday. Wakf properties were alienated by changing the existing managing committees, appointing favourable persons to suit such misuse and executing leases without any public auction, among others, he pointed out.
In the matter of Moulvi Nabi Khana Akbar, a prime Wakf property, a meagre amount of Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 was being collected from each shop even as larger amounts were being collected by individuals personally, Mr. Khan said. The Wakf Tribunal which is supposed to look into such misuse of properties has been ineffective in this matter. “The commission has requested the governments of both the States to give No Objection Certificate (NoC) to conduct CBI inquiry. The case is posted for hearing on June 8 and we are hoping to get a favourable judgment,” Mr. Khan said.
“The States will not have to set aside a budget for welfare of the Muslim community if all Wakf property is managed well without corruption,” Mr. Khan said at the media meet.
