LG Najeeb Jung dissolves Delhi Waqf Board, refers probe into graft charges

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday dissolved the Delhi Waqf Board, which was “superseded” by the Arvind Kejriwal government last year, after two of its members resigned alleging corruption and referred the matter to CBI for a probe, setting the stage for another round of confrontation between the AAP dispensation and the Centre.

The LG reconstituted the board, quashing all appointments made by its incumbent Chairman and Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan. Jung has directed Divisional Commissioner A Anbarasu to set up a committee to review the legality and propriety of all decisions and action taken by the Board after its constitution in March and submit a report within a month.

“In view of the deliberate and persistent acts of illegality, violation of rules, allegations of corruption, possibility of malafide etc, the whole matter related to the Delhi Waqf Board is referred to the CBI for investigation,” the LG office said in a statement. Two members of the Board had earlier resigned alleging “corruption” and “irregularities in appointments” during Khan’s tenure.

The Okhla MLA had, however, denied the charges. “Revenue Department’s notification dated October 8, 2015 superseding the Delhi Waqf Board and dated March 11, 2015 reconstituting the Delhi Waqf Board and orders of services department dated April 28, 2016 appointing Mehboob Alam as CEO are declared illegal and void ab initio for not having obtained the approval of the competent authority and are revoked immediately,” the statement added.

S M Ali, Special Secretary (Environmnet and Forests), has been given the additional charge of Chief Executive Officer of the Board till further orders. Since the term of the Board, constituted in 2011, was to expire in December 2016 and five out of seven members have already resigned, no purpose is served in reviving the Board and therefore, the body is superseded under Section 99 of the Act till the expiry of its term, it said. It said Secretary (Revenue) as per Section 99(2) of the Waqf Act will exercise all powers and duties of the Board, till it is reconstituted.