Srinagar,18-Jan: Amid rising complaints of irregularities and misappropriation of funds and properties at a large number of shrines, Jamia Masjids, Khankahs, and associated properties, the Waqf board on Tuesday ordered constituting district-level committees asking them to prepare a list of properties which are Waqf notified in the respective districts and need to be brought under administrative control.
On being contacted by CNS, Executive Magistrate Tehsildar (J&K Waqf Board), Ishtiyaq Mohi-ud-din said that amid rising complaints and representations submitted by locals to the Chairperson J&K Waqf Board, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, about the mismanagement of funds by local committees, directions have been issued for takeover of all such Waqf notified properties to ensure transparency and accountability at all such places.
“On the basis of Complaints of locals, preliminary enquiries have been conducted by Waqf on the directions of Chairperson at a few places that have revealed embezzlements & irregularities. A recent preliminary enquiry by Waqf at Khiram Shrine Tehsil Srigufwara of Anantnag district unearthed embezzlement of millions of Rupees by the local committee, and legal action, including lodgement of FIR, is underway after its takeover.” he added.
Sources revealed to CNS that 65lakhs are missing from the shrine and 42 thousand rupees have been spent by the same committee for the farewell of Tehsildar.
The order issued by the Waqf reads that large number of Notified Waqf properties that have not been administratively controlled to date, and were being managed privately by local committees.
“However, in view of receipt of a large number of complaints /representations by the Chairperson, J&K Wag Board, from the general public regarding mismanagement & irregularities, it has become imperative to directly administer all such important Shrines/ Jamia Masids/ Khankahs and other assets that are already Waqf notified properties, to ensure transparency and accountability.”
Accordingly, the sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of District Level committees for verification and submission of reports in this regard within a period of 21 days positively, it said. The committees have been directed to peruse the complaints/representations received from the general public & submit detailed reports of assets, finances & administrative affairs of such properties. Furthermore, the Waqf Board asked the committees to prepare a list of all important Shrines/ Jamia Masids/ Khankahs and associated properties which are Waqf-notified properties in the district but have not been taken over by the Board to date, along with details of assets, liabilities, income, and staff.“A separate list of those Shrines/Jamia Masjid/Khankahs and allied properties be also prepared, that are not Waqf notified properties, but are to be brought under administrative control on the basis of representations/ complaints of the general public,” it added.
Amid rising complaints of misappropriation of funds, Committees constituted by Waqf board for takeover of its properties
