Afroz Alam Sahil, Beyond Headlines
New Delhi: The Central Waqf Council has control only on its office premises and on no other waqf properties.
This revelation comes in response to an application filled by BeyondHeadlines under Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
Outside Fatehpuri mosque in Delhi (Courtesy: Outlook)
Central Waqf Council, constituted under Waqf Act (1995), says, “Central Waqf Council does not have control on any property except its office premise.” It further adds, “It has no land to give either on lease or rent.”
The ‘toothless’ body does not even have proper and organized records of all waqf properties, which is estimated to be around 4 lakh acres.
On specific questions asked by BH on the details of mosques, dargahs, and burial grounds under it, the Council frankly replied: “No information is available.”
The Waqf Council was constituted primarily for the purpose of advising the government on matters pertaining to working of the State Wakf Boards and proper administration of the Wakfs in the country.
For the year 2008-2009, a total budget of the Waqf Council was Rs 30.61, while the income for the same period was Rs 4.46 crore.”
