Adjacent to the mosque are two historic shrines, covering nearly 20,000 square feet. The land was endowed by Nawab Ayaz Ali Khan on June 14, 1798.
Team Clarion
MUMBAI – Concerns are mounting over the ongoing unlawful occupation of properties belonging to the Nawab Ayaz Ali Khan Mosque Trust, a significant Waqf property in the Byculla area in the city’s south. A year has passed since a survey was conducted by the Waqf Board, yet no tangible action has followed, leaving residents frustrated and questioning the board’s commitment to safeguarding their heritage.
Bilal Safiullah Khan, a local activist, has been at the forefront of raising these concerns. Following his complaints, 18 notices were sent to occupants in September 2023. Despite this, the absence of a report from the survey has led many to wonder about the board’s next steps. Bilal expressed his dissatisfaction in a letter to the Waqf Officer, Faiz Pathan, stating, “If a survey report has not been prepared or deemed necessary, it undermines the importance of the Waqf Law.” His remarks underline a troubling trend he has observed: a reactive approach from the Waqf Board, issuing notices and conducting surveys without following up on the issue.
During an earlier inspection, Waqf Officer Faiz Pathan confirmed the validity of the complaints. He warned encroachers that if they continued their violations, criminal action would be taken against them under the Waqf Act. Notably, the notice issued at that time highlighted that any agreements made by encroachers with developers breached Waqf provisions 51(A) and 52(A).
Adjacent to the mosque are two historic shrines, covering nearly 20,000 square feet. The land was endowed by Nawab Ayaz Ali Khan on June 14, 1798. The local community, including residents and shopkeepers, currently occupies the surrounding area, further complicating the preservation of this culturally significant site.
In light of these concerns, Waqf Officer Faiz Pathan has assured the community that action will be taken soon. “Notices were issued to 18 individuals, and eight of them have submitted their responses,” he stated. He attributed the delay to a heavy workload and commitments to the meetings of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Bill. He said he would soon recommend a prompt action to the CEO of the Waqf Board.
Pathan stressed the importance of protecting Waqf properties, clarifying, “The board is performing its duties according to its resources, and the delay does not imply negligence from the board members or staff.”
Meanwhile, the trustees of the mosque trust reiterated their commitment to the preservation of the mosque and its assets. “Any steps taken by the Waqf Board will be in the interest of the mosque and the trust, and we will continue to cooperate as we have in the past, as our shared goal is to preserve the mosque and its ownership,” they concluded.
As the community awaits decisive action, the hope remains that the Waqf Board will prioritise the safeguarding of this historic site, ensuring its legacy is preserved for future generations.
