NOW, NOC OF DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MUST FOR COMMERCIAL USE OF WAQF PROPERTIES’

Now people will need a no objection certificate (NOC) from their respective development authorities to make commercial use of Waqf properties in Uttar Pradesh, say officials.

The state government has issued orders in this regard to all distinct magistrates, divisional commissioners and additional commissioner (waqf).

The missive does away with the two 1994 government orders (GOs) that allowed commercial use of Waqf land if approved by Shia or Sunni Waqf Boards with permission of the development authority concerned, they add.

The missive issued by special secretary, minorities welfare and waqf department, JP Singh dated October 23 makes plain that the state government has cancelled the GOs dated February 4, 1994 and March 14, 1994 with immediate effect.

These orders had done away with the need for taking approval from the respective development authority for using a Waqf property commercially if the move was approved by either the by Shia or Sunni Waqf Boards, said district minority officer, Prayagraj, SP Tiwari.

“Cancelling of the old 1994 order means that henceforth for using any Waqf property for such commercial use, a no objection certificate from the development authority concerned would be a must in the state,” he added. Officials share that there are around 3 lakh Sunni Waqf properties and 7,225 Shia Waqf properties in Uttar Pradesh. These properties are controlled by these respective Waqf Boards. In Prayagraj alone, there are over 2,500 Waqf properties that include graveyards, Eidgahs and mosques.