Tension is brewing between the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments over management of the Wakf affairs. The recent appointment of M.J. Akbar by the Telangana government to look after the day to day affairs of the Wakf Board has not gone down well with the neighbouring State. The Wakf Board, which is among institutions in the tenth schedule of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, is still in the process of bifurcation.
The A.P Minorities Welfare Secretary, Shaikh Mohd Iqbal, has taken strong exception on not being consulted by his Telangana counterpart, Syed Omer Jaleel, before making appointment to such an important post.
Under the State Reorganisation Act, all appointments should be made with mutual consultations. But the Telangana government has flouted this rule during the recent appointment of Mr. Akbar and before him of the Board’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohd. Asadullah.
“We have an equal stake in the Board and we should be consulted,” says Mr. Iqbal.
This apart he feels the posting of Mr. Akbar under section 103 of the State Reorganisation Act itself is wrong as it pertained to ‘Transferred Territory’. Since no territory is transferred to Telangana on the Appointed Day making appointment under this section is incorrect, it is said.
The Telangana government recently notified Mr. Akbar as the Competent Authority to look after the Wakf Board. Earlier, his appointment as the Board’s Special Officer was set aside by the High Court on the ground that government had no power to appoint special officer under the Wakf Act. The Telangana government should have gone in appeal before the court instead of bringing back Mr. Akbar through Section 103. This appointment also runs the risk of being struck down, it is said.
Moreover, not going in appeal could have bigger ramifications nationwide. Presently in a number of Sates, the Wakf Boards are being managed by either Special Officers or Administrators.
When the High Court strikes down the special officer appointment, it would affect other States as well. Decisions taken by the special officers could also be questioned.
Delayed salaries
Mr. Iqbal is also anguished about the delayed payment of salaries to the Wakf Board employees.
We have an equal stake in the Board and we should be consulted
Shaikh Mohd Iqbal
Secretary, A.P Minorities Welfare
Wakf Board, which is among institutions in tenth schedule of AP Reorganisation Act, is still in the process of bifurcation
