SC advocates suggest state govt to have its own Waqf Board

While the country has witnessed heated debates on the newly framed Waqf Bill, two lawyers of the apex court have come forward to express their views in this regard at Dharamsala. Supporting the Bill, Supreme Court advocates Ramzan Khan and Aslam Sheikh in a press conference held at Dharamshala on Monday said, “The Sukhu-led government in Himachal Pradesh should form Waqf Board, Haj Committee and Gujjar Welfare Board in the state in line with the Waqf law made by the Centre.”

Strongly advocating the newly passed Waqf law they said that it would benefit the lower class of Muslim society.

Ramzan Khan said under the new Waqf law, Muslim women would get representation, while non-Muslims would be included in the Waqf Board. He emphasised that to bring transparency in Waqf Boards formed in states, their audit would be ensured every year, which was not done earlier.

“The Central Government does not have information about how many properties Waqf Boards of different states have and how much income they are getting from them,” he said.

Ramzan Khan said according to a report, Waqf Boards across the country had 9,40,000 acres, whereas the land claimed was only 100 acres.

Ramzan Khan opined that the Waqf Board was formed for the welfare of Muslim society. No one had any account of the income of the properties of Waqf Boards, he said, while adding that in such a situation new Waqf law would bring transparency in it.

A central portal would be created, in which states would have to register information about the land, properties and income of the Waqf Board within six months, he said.

He said Waqf Board was formed in the year 1950 to provide financial assistance for marriage, treatment and higher education of the poor section of Muslim society.

Himachal Tribune