Wakf record unit shut for 3 months

The Record Section of the Telangana Wakf Board has remained shut for the last three months as the Hyderabad District Collector failed to depute a custodian after the repatriation of services of G. Sunitha, Deputy Tahsildar, in February following her promotion by the Revenue Department. Consequently, the board officials are unable to access the files and records kept in the record section as it has been sealed.

The section was sealed on November 8, 2017, on the instructions of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao when the officials failed to provide details of Wakf lands under various institutions during a review meeting. Later, the government had constituted a committee for enumer ation/inventory, scanning and digitisation and documentation of records of the Wakf Board. A police picket had been set up for security of records. A Deputy Tahsildar level officer was posted as custodian of the section.

Unfortunately, the work of enumeration and documentation records could not be completed even after a lapse of three-and-a-half years. Sunitha was transferred on promotion on February

3 this year and no other officer was deputed in her place. CEO of Wakf Board Shahnawaz Qasim addressed a letter to the Collector and District Magistrate of Hyderabad on February

23 requesting to depute a suitable substitute in place of her for smooth functioning of the above work.

Officials of the board complained that they were facing many difficulties due to the closure of the Record Section as important files are kept in it. “We are even not able to prepare affidavits and counter-affidavits in the court for want of records and documents,” said an official.