Central government gets tough on waqf properties, will set up board to monitor complaints regarding them

The Centre has decided to act tough on complaints related to waqf properties and will soon set up a one-man 'board of adjudication' to deal with them.  As per Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the government is not going to bow down to encroachers and a campaign has been launched on "war-footing" to free the properties from such elements.

"A board of adjudication will soon be established at the Centre-level to deal with complaints relating to waqf properties.
"This committee will be headed by a retired Supreme Court Justice or retired High Court Chief Justice," a statement quoted himsaying such during  the 74th meeting of the Central Waqf Council here. 

Similarly, the Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) said, three-member tribunals will be formed in the states.
The government has received "serious" complaints about "waqf mafias" and a high-level enquiry is underway in this regard, said Naqvi.

"The government will soon take action against those occupying waqf properties illegally to see the assets are used for welfare of Muslim community and their socio-economic-educational empowerment," he added. 

There are 31 state waqf boards and more than 4,27,000 registered waqf properties across the country. Besides these, there are many non-registered waqf properties.

During his address, the Minister also directed all state waqf boards to register their respective properties online by the year-end to ensure transparency. 

Naqvi also said that the Ministry, in cooperation with state governments, will construct schools, colleges, malls, hospitals, skill development centres and community centres for the minorities.