Probe Waqf Board reconstitution, orders L-G Baijal

NEWDELHI: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has directed the revenue department of the government to examine a complaint regarding reconstitution of a Waqf Board and submit a report on the issue.

The move comes a week after a delegation of BJP MLAS, led by Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, complained to the L-G, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party government reconstituted the Delhi Waqf Board by “violating” the rules of appointment.

“The L-G has desired that the matter (regarding Gupta’s complaint) may be examined as per rules, and comments be submitted to this secretariat for his kind perusal through proper channel,” Anoop Thakur, private secretary to the L-G, said in a written statement to the revenue secretary.

Maintaining his stand, Gupta said, “The Delhi government is bent on reconstituting the Waqf Board in utter violation of the Waqf Act, 1995, and the Waqf (Amendment) Act of 2013. How can Khan be appointed the chairman of the board when he is facing a CBI probe?” questioned Gupta.

He also charged that Amantullah Khan, the former chairman of the Waqf Board, was being reappointed to the post.

The Delhi Waqf Board comprises seven members, who elect the chairman. Khan was elected as a member of the board last month.

The AAP MLA was the chairman of the Waqf Board for six months last year.

He had resigned amid allegations of irregularities during his tenure and raids on the office of the board by the anticorruption branch in September last year.