State Wakf Board to hire 7 lawyers to fight pending cases

Cases against the board are not properly defended in courts owing to which orders are passed without representation.

In a meeting held last week, Maharashtra State Wakf Board (MSWB) decided to appoint seven lawyers to represent the board in all the cases pending across seven divisions in Maharashtra. These lawyers will be assisted by other advocates and represent the board in district courts, Wakf tribunal, high courts and Supreme Court. 

A view of Supreme Court building in New Delhi(HT PHOTO)

Earlier, Minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had announced that Wakf boards in each state have been asked to appoint six employees, whose salary will be paid by the Centre so that they can look after digital process, survey and give legal advice. 

Khalid Babu Qureshi, a member of MSWB, said, “Cases against the board are not properly defended in courts owing to which orders are passed without representation and the board is losing out on properties which then get into wrong hands.” 

Qureshi added, as of March 2018, around 4,000 cases were pending in various courts. 

Shabbir Ahmed Ansari, president, All India Muslim OBC Organisation, who had earlier locked the office of the MSWB, said around 1,100 change reports, 1,300 scheme applications pertaining to various Masjids, 1,500 registrations of Masjids and 650 court cases were pending. 

“The board meeting took place for the first time in one year and we had expressed concern over various issues before the meeting took place. We hope the lawyers, who will be appointed, will work as per law and not be asked to support builder lobby like in case of property at Lalbaugh,” Ansari said.  

According to Wakf Act 1995, a Wakf board has the right over administration and jurisdiction over Muslim religious properties. 

In the meeting, the board also decided to raise monthly salary of Imams from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 in 175 institutions, and hike the bonus paid to them on Eid. Emphasising on education for children of Imams, Qureshi said ₹10,000 would be provided yearly for education of the first two children of Imams and to the third girl child. 

“Salaries of staff will be raised and pending dues will also be cleared,” Qureshi added.