November 28, 2019
Sajda Ahmed speaks about freeing the encroachment of Waqf properties across the country
FULL TRANSCRIPT
I would like to thank you Sir, for giving me the chance to speak in the Zero Hour. My subject is “The need to expedite the administrative process to free the encroachment of Waqf properties across the country”.
It has been mentioned by the government that 15,937 Waqf Board properties were under encroachment in the country. These encroachments are by private parties and even sometimes by the government agencies also.
To protect the Waqf Board properties, and to prevent encroachment, a dedicated online portal has been set up. So far, 5,94,139 immovable Waqf Board properties have been registered on the portal. But no mechanism has been adopted to get these properties free from encroachment.
As per the Waqf Act, Superintendent of Waqf properties in State is rested with the State Waqf Board, which empowers to manage and take legal action against unauthorised occupation and encroachment of such properties. But State Waqf Boards are fixed and Waqf Law is formulated by the Central Government. I have reported about 24,000 litigations on Waqf properties pending in court. State Waqf Boards are not in a position to get these properties free.
I urge the government to establish a high-powered committee to study and review the delay of litigations and any loopholes in laws so that all that the Waqf properties could be made free from illegal encroachment, and to be utilised for larger benefits of Muslim minorities.
Thank you, Sir.
