‘LG holding up constitution of Wakf board without reason’

NEWDELHI: The Delhi government on Wednesday alleged that the lieutenant governor (L-G) has put on hold the constitution of the Delhi Wakf Board without any valid reason. The government said the L-G took the decision, citing a Delhi High Court order.

The L-G office, however, did not react to the government’s allegations.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday said that the process of constituting the body is pending for more than a year now, after the former L-G, Najeeb Jung, had dissolved the board “illegally” and “usurped” its powers.

Wakf is a permanent dedication of movable or immovable properties for religious or charitable purposes, as recognised by the Muslim Law, by philanthropists.

Sisodia said that the Delhi High Court in its order on November 10, 2017 had directed that the vacancy in respect of the fourth member — Muslim member of the Bar Council of Delhi — shall not be filled till further directions. “The court did not stay the constitution of the Board, but its order merely confines to the election of the fourth member only. The view taken by the L-G is seriously hampering the functioning of the Wakf Board and Imams of various mosques are not getting their salaries,” he said.

Sisodia said that the constitution of the board cannot be put on hold on the ground that the filling up of the vacancy against a particular category has been stayed.

Delhi Wakf Board has seven members of which four are elected and three are nominated by the government. The returning officer had completed the process for the election of three members on November 20, 2017.

“The L-G’S decision appears to be an attempt to delay the constitution of the board . It gives rise to a reasonable view that it is being done to allow the officers selected by him to continue administering Wakf properties worth hundreds of crores of rupees,” he said.