Activist questions government's intention to safeguard Wakf properties

ummid.com: New Delhi: Wednesday, January 29, 2014.

Ahead of the central government's mega plan to inaugurate the National Waqf Development Corporation Limited (NAWADCO) tomorrow, an RTI activist who is closely monitoring the initiatives taken for proper utilization of the Wakf properties raised doubts over the government's intention questioning why the government has not so far filed its reply in the Supreme Court over the computerisation of the Wakf records.

"The Supreme Court had issued notice to the central government on September 20, 2013 asking it to file a reply within four weeks why the computerisation of the Wakf records has not been completed despite the needed fund was transferred to the respective Wakf boards in various states", Moradabad based RTI Activist Saleem Baig, who had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court, said while talking to the ummid.com.

The government on the recommendations of the Sachar Committer Report had transferred a whopping Rs. 13 crore rupees to a total of 29 Wakf boards in 27 states of the country for computerisation of all Wakf records. This includes two Shia Wakf boards in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh besides Sunni Wakf boards in all the Indian states.

Interestingly, the National Information Centre was also given an amount of Rs.4.81 crore rupees for the same purpose in 2009-10. After no progress seen on the project, RTI Activist Saleem Baig sought information from the concerned department and received shocking replies. "Besides the state wakf board's failure to complete the project, what shocked us most was that the information sought under the RTI said that the government had not set any deadline for the completion of the project", Saleem Baig said.

He now wondered if the government is filing a reply in the Supreme Court or had set any deadline for the completion of computerisation of the Wakf data. "Through the National Waqf Development Corporation Limited (NAWADCO) government intends to safeguard the Wakf properties spread across the country. We want to know how the government plans to do it without proper record. Or, it is another plan by the government to fool people ahead of the crucial election", he said.