Hyderabad, July 23, Rampant encroachment and land grabbing of Wakf properties in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana now appear set to come under scanner if things go as planned by the Minorities Commission. The Andhra Pradesh State Minorities Commission (APSMC) says it has come across alleged irregularities in management of Wakf properties in the two States to the tune estimated thousands of crores of rupees at current market value. APSMC Chairman Abid Rasool Khan says the Commission has over a period of last one year received more than 100 complaints alleging large scale encroachment of Wakf lands with the tacit support of Wakf Board officials or the Muthawalis, who are custodian of the property, that they have sold these properties or leased them away flouting rules. “Prima facie in about 35-40 cases, Wakf officials joined hands with land grabbers and not protected the properties. As per the market value Rs 30,000 to 40,000 crore properties of the Wakf have been eaten away by the encroachers”, Khan told PTI here. “However, people have been occupying (some of these properties) for more than 20 years but the Wakf Board has not taken any steps to evict them. We took up inquiries into the complaints. In 35-40 cases we have found fault with the Muthawalis and the Wakf Board officials in transferring the properties. Even legal advisors have not done their duties properly. On these complaints we are preparing a report”, he said. “Now we are in process of compiling a detailed report on the irregularities. We are in process of obtaining valuation certificates from registrar offices. Once the report is ready within the next one week, we will be writing to the Centre, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments seeking CBI probe. Separate reports will be handed over to AP and Telangana respectively”. According to rules, Wakf property cannot be sold under any circumstances. There can be lease for maximum period of three years which was also recently amended making it mandatory for renewal every year. Wakf lands and properties are given to Wakf Board to generate income and spending for the benefit of the poorest of the poor of the section by way giving pension for the needy and development and betterment of the community. He said there were two reports -- one by Parliamentary Committee and the other one by the State Legislative Committee -- that delved on irregularities in Wakf Board. “The finding of these committees will form part of our report”, Khan said. As per a survey conducted by the Wakf Survey Commissioner, Andhra Pradesh region has 15,400 properties and Telangana region 64,500 properties which are notified and registered by the Wakf Board ranging from 100 yards to 1,000 acres, according to Khan. “However, 70 to 80 per cent among these properties is in possession of land grabbers… including government agencies. Along with documentary evidence, we are putting up these details in the report seeking CBI inquiry”. “We are asking all the resolutions, transfers over a period of last 15 years and it should be put under the scanner of CBI on illegal sale, transfer and lease and also misappropriation of funds and grabbing of Wakf properties for the past 15 years in AP and Telangana”, Khan said. VIKRAM PTI JOURNALIST HYDERABAD
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 15:57:29 +0000
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