No changes on Kali Gumbad land

Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday directed the officials of the Telangana Government and the Telangana State Wakf Board that construction of the vegetable market yard in Gajwel town should not include the land belonging to ‘Kali Gumbad’ (Black Tomb).

While admitting a petition by one Mohammed Muqtar, a resident of Gajwel, challenging the action of the state government and the Telangana State Wakf Board in leasing out the land belonging to the Muslim graveyard for construction of market yard, Justice A.V. Sesha Sai directed the authorities concerned that no construction should be carried out in the land till further orders.

Abdul Muqeeth Qureshi, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, submitted that 17.17 acres of Kali Gumbad (Black Tomb), situated in Gajwel town, is notified Wakf property and the state government issued a GO on October 27, 2017 directing the Wakf Board to lease out 6.25 acres land, for a period of 30 years, for the construction of the market yard.

Qureshi told the court that following the directions of the state government, the Wakf Board issued proceedings to lease out the land which is in violation of Section 51 of the Wakf Act and urged the court to declare the GO No 248 as illegal and unconstitutional.

The counsel appearing for the Wakf Board submitted that some private individuals were trying to encroach the land belonging to the Black Tomb and to protect the land, the Board decided to lease it out for construction of the market yard.

The counsel for the State Government submitted that right now, the construction activity was proceeding in the land belonging to the government.

The Judge made it clear that the constructions on the government land should be subjected to final outcome of the petition.