Amendments in Wakf Act to strengthen Wakf institutions

By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, FEB 5

Union Minister of Minority Affairs  K. Rahman Khan said that certain amendments would be brought in the Wakf Act 1995 to further strengthen the Wakf  institutions of the country. He also assured the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda ,that he would personally take up the matter with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on priority basis to get the Haryana Public Premises and Land (Eviction and Rent Recovery) Amendment Bill, 2006 cleared as it is lying pending for the assent of President of India.

          Mr. Khan was speaking as a chief guest in the three-day National Conference on “Protection and Management of Wakfs” organized by Haryana Wakf Board with the sponsorship of Union Ministry of Minority Affairs at Amabala Cantt today.

           He said that that in view of the problems being faced by the Wakfs to get their land freed from the illegal possessions, the Haryana Government has amended the Public Premises Act in the Vidhan Sabha in the year 2006 The amendment in the Haryana Public Premises and Land (Eviction and Rent Recovery) Amendment Bill would substantially help in removing encroachment from the wakf properties.

          Mr. Khan said that the Ministry of Minority Affairs would bring certain amendments in the Wakf Act 1995 to further strengthen the Wakf  institutions of the country.   He said that as per the new amendments the period of lease of the Wakf property would be increased to 30 years from merely three years with the condition that the Wakf Boards have to exercise transparency in the whole process of leasing out its property. This would help in checking the misuse of property.

 Apart from this, tribunals were being made multi-member tribunals and  these Tribunals would also be given additional powers of eviction and appeal. Mr Khan said that survey of Wakf property was a key issue hence; we are also bringing about a change in the survey process. Now, as per the new Act, the survey report would be got published by State Government instead of the Wakf Board. Similarly, the property could neither be sold nor gifted to anyone. Uniform rules would be applicable thoroughout the country. He said that the new Act is likely to be passed in the ensuing budget session.

          The Union Minister said that the Ministry has also initiated a scheme of computerization of  Wakf records. He said that digitalization of the Wakf Boards would go a long way in protecting the Wakf properties from encroachment

          Mr. Khan said that about four lakh acres of land is available with the Wakf Board in the country,whereas 47,000 acres of land is available in Haryana out of which 21,000 acres land falls in urban areas.  He said that if this land was developed then Haryana would become more prosperous. He also urged the Wakf Boards to give special emphasis towards secondary education as he said that it was the base of the education system.

          While appreciating the Chief Minister Mr. Hooda, Mr. Khan Said that he has taken various steps for the protection and management of Wakf Board in the State.   While thanking the Union Minister for sparing his valuable time for the conference, Mr. Hooda said that property on prime locations was available with the Wakf  Boards whether they were of Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and the Board could make best use of such properties  provided they ensure proper protection and management of such property.

          Mr. Hooda said that the Wakf Act was brought by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in the year 1954. Mr. Hooda described this step  as a right one as a large number of Muslims had migrated to Pakistan and their properties had been illegally occupied.  He said that his family had deep relations with Mr. Azad as being in Centre he was Member of Parliament from Gurgaon. At that time his father Ch. Ranbir Singh was also MP from Rohtak and he and Mr. Azad were fast friends. Mr. Hooda said that he also got a chance to rub shoulders with him.

          Mr. Hooda said that the State Government had amended the Public Premises Act in Vidhan Sabha in the year 2006 with an aim to provide relief to the Wakf Board as they had been frequenting the courts to get their land released from the illegal possession. He said that the directions have already been issued to such government offices in the State which were set up on the Wakf property to become tenants of the Board.

In addition to this, all the Deputy Commissioners have been asked to immediately do  the mutation of Wakf land in the name of Board.  He said that for conducting the survey of Wakf property in the State, all Divisional Commissioners have been appointed as Survey Commissioners. As many as 414 such properties have been identified which were not notified in the survey earlier. The process of notifying such properties also was in progress, he added. Mr. Hooda said that the State Government has also notified Haryana Wakf Rules 2012.

          The Chief Minister said that  during the last more than eight years, development has taken place in Mewat at an accelerated pace. A sum of Rs. 3025 crore has so far been spent on various development works in Mewat. He said that Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Project has been implemented at a cost of about Rs. 247 crores. The work on construction of Ranneywell Segment and Tubewell Segment of this project had been completed. Apart from this, drinking water at the rate of 50 liters per capita per day was being made available to 419 villages.

          Mr. Hooda said that the State Government was giving special emphasis on education sector. Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Medical College was being set up in village Nalhar in district Mewat. A sum of Rs. 678 crore would be incurred on it. The OPD in the Medical College has already been started.  Admission to 100 seats would be started from the next session. Mr. Hooda said that separate cadre has been made for teachers and doctors to meet the shortage of staff in Mewat.

          On this occasion Mr. Hooda announced to construct boys hostel in Mewat Engineering College at Nuh.

          Later Mr. Hooda inaugurated the Institute of Education, Training and Rehabilitation of the Visually Challenged run by National Federation of Blind, Haryana Branch at Ambala Cantt. Mr. Hooda announced to give Rs. 10 lakh to the National Federation of Blind, Haryana Branch out of his discretionary funds. 

Others who also spoke on the occasion  included Deputy Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha Mr. Akram Khan, MLA Nuh and Chairman, Haj Committee, Haryana Mr. Aftab Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer of Haryana Wakf Board Mr. Parvej Ahmed and Administrator Mr. Nasim Ahmed.

Commissioner of Police Mr. K.K. Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr. Ashok Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Shekhar Vidyarathi,  Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr. S.S Pholia and  Chairperson and CEOs of all the State Wakf Boards were also present on the occasion.