Srinagar- The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board cracked a whip on local Auqaf Committees and took over the control of all the shrines and other religious places across the Union Territory.

The dissolution of local Waqf or Auqaf Committees was announced by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of J&K Waqf Board in an order issued on December 17. The order has left all the local Waqf or Auqaf Committees as void ab-initio throughout J&K.

The order reads that all local Auqaf Committees from now on will have no legal standing in Jammu and Kashmir.

“In Pursuance to Waqf Act, 1995 extended to Jammu & Kashmir (UT) with the constitution of new J&K Waqf Board has taken overall control of all the Shrines including other Assets / Properties under the Muslim Specified Waqf in whole UT of Jammu & Kashmir, the order, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Observer reads.

It said that no association or self-styled local Auqaf committee or management has any legal standing under the provisions of the Central Waqf Act, 1995.

“No such Committee has any kind of registration of validation from J&K Waqf Board,” the order said.

“It is hereby notified that all the local Waqf / Auqaf Committees shall be deemed as void ab-initio throughout J&K & any kind of interference by such local Waqf Committees be reckoned illegal & to invite action under Law on all the Waqf Units managed by J&K Waqf Board,” it adds

The order informs all government departments & the general public not to entertain any communication of any such local committee at any Waqf Unit

“This order is issued to ensure a smooth, systematic, transparent & legally viable management system, at all the Waqf Units throughout Jammu and Kashmir, ” the order adds.

However talking to Kashmir Observer, the Chairperson of Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi clarified that the order doesn’t apply to the local Mohalla Intezamia Committees and the Anjuman-e-Auqaf Jamia Masjid which manages the historic Jamia Mosque of Srinagar.

“Jamia Auqaf doesn’t fall under Waqf Board as of now and let me clarify the order applies only to those properties that fall under Waqf Board,” she said.

She further clarified that the order doesn’t apply to the local Masjid committees or Shia Auqaf.

Andrabi further informed that there are around thirty thousand properties in J&K that fall under Waqf Board.

When asked what was the logic behind the move, Andrabi said “Since the new body is heading the Waqf, she wants new committees and new faces to run the affairs of the Waqf.”

“All the previous committees stand dissolved now,” she added.

References:

kashmirobserver.net