In the wake of six months of inactivity, worries deepen regarding the preservation of Delhi’s endowment properties and the financial security of the board personnel.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Even six months after its tenure ended, no significant progress has been noticed to reconstitute the Delhi Waqf Board. This inordinate delay has left the administration of endowments in a state of uncertainty.
Tasked with safeguarding mosques, madrasas, and dargahs, the Delhi Waqf Board’s functions have come to a halt, with the Lieutenant Governor V.N. Saxena appointing only an administrator. Hakeem Hussain Zaheer, a prominent figure within this domain, has been designated as the interim head. However, the anticipated board’s restructuring efforts by the government have yet to materialise, leaving crucial matters such as property disputes and the protection of religious sites unresolved.
The lack of a functioning board has exacerbated concerns over the vulnerability of endowment properties in the capital. Legal battles for the preservation of shrines and places of worship have been left unattended, leading to instances of demolition of several historic mosques and dargahs. The absence of intervention has sparked apprehension and distress among the Muslim community which relied on the board for legal advocacy and protection.
Legal experts and activists have emphasised the urgent need for the establishment of a new board and the appointment of a chairman to oversee its operations. Failure to adhere to established protocols has resulted in a vacuum in the institution, leaving its essential tasks unattended.
Senior advocate Wajeeh Shafiq and former MLA Chaudhary Mateen Ahmad expressed dismay over the prolonged delay in the board’s reconstitution, highlighting the adverse impact on endowment protection.
Speaking to Clarion India, Chaudhry Mateen Ahmed said that due to the lack of reorganisation of the board, the endowment properties are being continuously seized and destroyed by demolition operations. “What is going on in the Waqf board is not good,” he added. “The board should be reconstituted as soon as possible so that the work at least starts.”
Advocate Shafiq told Clarion India over the phone that the act is not clear as to how long the reconstitution should take. But in all the bodies where elections and nominations are held, the process of forming a new body is done before the expiry of the term of the incumbent entity.
In the case of Delhi Waqf Board, he said, the delay in its reconstitution is a cause for concern. “The board is not even able to fight legal battles and the properties of the Waqf are being destroyed,” he said.
Additionally, concerns are being raised regarding the financial well-being of board employees, including imams and muezzins, who have reportedly faced salary interruptions since the board’s dissolution. The delay in the reconstitution has further compounded their plight, with essential support systems left in limbo.
Mufti Abdul Raziq, general secretary of the Delhi chapter of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, condemned the current state of the Waqf board, citing the lack of hope for endowment protection. He demanded an urgent action to address the pressing issues surrounding the board’s reconstruction and the safeguarding of Waqf properties.
In light of these developments, stakeholders stress the imperative for prompt action to reconstitute the Delhi Waqf Board, ensuring the continued protection of religious endowments and the welfare of its employees. Without immediate intervention, the valuable heritage and sanctity of the Waqf properties remain at risk.
