Shabbir opposes Wakf lands regularisation

Writes to KCR, deputy Chief Minister and others

Hyderabad: Deputy CLP leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir has expressed apprehensions over the safety of Wakf properties in the Telangana State in view of ongoing land regularisation drive launched by the State government as per GOs 58 and 59. In a letter written to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Shabbir Ali said there was a lot of unrest and apprehensions within the Muslim community with regard to protection of Wakf properties after the State government announced regularisation drive.

He alleged that the government has put the safety of Wakf properties at stake. “Several cases have come to the notice in the past wherein Wakf lands were mistaken for government lands and consequently sold to private parties. Such disputes are still going on in different courts and are at various stages of hearing.

In such a scenario, the encroachers and some vested elements are trying to take advantage of the GOs 58 and 59 to legalise their illegal possession on Wakf properties,” he said in his letter. Therefore, Shabbir Ali demanded KCR to issue directions to the Revenue department and other concerned authorities to ensure that they do not accept any application if it was not enclosed with an NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the State Wakf Board.

The Congress leader also alleged that the State government was planning to sell away prime Wakf properties in Hyderabad and its outskirts. “There are reports that the government has directed the Secretary of Minorities Welfare Department to furnish information on Wakf properties located on prime locations in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

As many as 18 important properties located at Begumpet, Chapel Road, Nampally, Narayanguda, Khairtabad, Panjagutta, Shaikpet, Maheshwaram, Mamidipally, Manikonda and Serilingampally are said to have been identified by the department. Further, there are reports that the State government is planning to acquire these properties by paying a nominal amount to the Wakf Board and sell the same at exorbitant rates to private parties. This move is extremely shocking,” he said.

Stating that no one including Wakf Board has a right to sell away a Wakf property, he asked the government to drop its plans, if any, to acquire and sell Wakf properties. “Any such move would be a direct interference in the Wakf affairs and violation of Central Wakf Act,” he said and sought a clear assurance from the Chief Minister that the State government would not regularise encroachments on Wakf properties under the grab of land regularisation.

The Congress leader also reminded that following a debate on the floor of the State Legislature, a House Committee was formed on January 10 this year to inquire into the Wakf lands. Shabbir Ali is also a member of House Committee which is headed by Bajireddy Govardhan. “The State government should not regularise/alienate or intervene on any matters related to Wakf properties until the House Committee submits its enquiry report,” he demanded.

The Congress leader also wrote separate letters to Deputy Chief Minister (Revenue) Mahmood Ali, Assembly Speaker S Madhusudan Chary and Council Chairman Swamy Goud seeking their intervention for beginning of probe by the House Committee on Wakf properties.