Waqf Board to be formed by Aug 31: State government

After a year-long legal battle, the state government on Friday stated it would constitute the Waqf Board by August 31, and issue notification for the election process soon.

The high court first division bench of chief justice R Subhash Reddy and justice Vipul Pancholi disposed of the public interest litigation moved by the state convener of Seva Waqf Property Movement after recording the statement made by the state government, assuring it would hold elections for board members before August 31.

As per the Waqf board constitution, the management committee should have seven members of which four are elected and the rest are state government nominees. 

As far as the elected members are concerned, there must be a Muslim Member of Parliament from the state, a Muslim member of State Legislative Assembly and a Muslim member of the Bar Council of Gujarat. The fourth seat is reserved for a ‘muttawali’ or trustee of the Waqf board. However, he has to file a nomination.

The petition was moved in October 2016, and a notice issued to the state asking it to file a reply. The petition had sought a halt to auction of 26 properties owned by the board, the market value of which is around Rs200 crore.

The second prayer was to direct the office bearers of the board to retire as their term had ended in February 2016. 

The third prayer was to appoint an acting CEO of deputy secretary level, instead of deputy collector level.