Hello Mumbai National Desk

Overarching Power of Waqf Boards: A Case for Urgent Reforms :
Waqf properties, which are meant to serve religious, social, and charitable purposes for the Muslim community, have increasingly become hotspots for corruption, mismanagement, and criminality across India. Several recent cases highlight the unchecked power of waqf boards, the illegal sale and lease of properties, and financial irregularities that have resulted in huge losses to the community.
One of the most blatant cases of corruption occurred at Imambada Mirza Ghulam Haider, located in Batasha Mandi, Prayagraj. In 2017, the then Mutawalli (caretaker), in collusion with Wasim Rizvi, who was Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board, unlawfully demolished part of the Imambada and constructed a commercial complex in clear violation of the Waqf Property Lease Rules, 2014. The shops in the complex were leased at rates much below the market price, with tenants being forced to pay large sums ranging from ₹30-60 lakhs illegally. Due to this mismanagement, the waqf has suffered an estimated monthly loss of ₹5 lakhs. Furthermore, the Mutawalli allegedly paid ₹65-75 lakhs to Wasim Rizvi to obtain permission for this unauthorized construction.
In Tamil Nadu, State Revenue Officers (SROs), in connivance with Tamil Nadu Waqf Board (TNWB) officials, have allowed the illegal sale of waqf properties worth hundreds of crores of rupees. Reports suggest that about 60% of the 1,030 waqf properties that generate an annual income of over ₹1 lakh falls under the scheme of the Tamil Nadu courts. However, TNWB has been bypassing legal procedures by arbitrarily appointing and removing mutawallis (caretakers), demonstrating the unregulated power the board enjoys. Another controversial waqf land allocations involves the DMK Trichy district office, Kalaignar Arivalayam, which was constructed on prime waqf land belonging to TNWB. Instead of proper legal proceedings, the land was given to the political party at a nominal rent, merely based on a resolution passed by the Waqf Board, without any judicial scrutiny. This unlawful allocation resulted in huge losses to the Muslim community, which could have used the land for religious or welfare purposes. Furthermore, there have been multiple instances of mosques and religious sites being forcefully taken over by groups with ideological and sectarian backing from TNWB. A notable example is the hostile takeover of Chetty’s Grand Mosque (Noul Band Mosque) in Ellis Road, Chennai, where a specific sect, favoured by TNWB, forcefully occupied the mosque. Another alarming case involves the forceful takeover of Hazrat Yakub Dargah in Krishnagiri district by a Popular Front of India (PFI) member, with alleged support from TNWB officials. Given that PFI has been accused of extremist activities, such incidents raise serious security concerns. To understand the gravity of the situation, it is imperative to note that the Madras High Court recently upheld a lower court verdict sentencing Syed Haider Ali, former Chairman of Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, to imprisonment for FCRA violations. This ruling highlights the rampant financial misconduct within waqf institutions and the urgent need for reforms to prevent further corruption.

The Waqf Act needs urgent amendments to ensure accountability, transparency, and proper governance of waqf properties. One of the most crucial reforms should be the strict monitoring of waqf board officials to prevent illegal sales and mismanagement, which have been rampant in several states. Additionally, there must be independent judicial scrutiny of waqf land allocations and leases to ensure that properties are not unlawfully leased or sold at nominal rates to individuals or organizations with political or sectarian backing. Furthermore, to curb the rampant corruption within waqf institutions, criminal action must be taken against waqf board members involved in financial irregularities and illegal transactions. A robust transparent financial audit system should also be introduced to track the income and expenditure of waqf properties, ensuring that funds are used for community welfare rather than personal enrichment. Another pressing issue is the forceful takeover of mosques, shrines, and other religious properties by groups or individuals belonging to specific sects or political affiliations, often with the backing of waqf boards. Strict legal measures must be enforced to protect these religious sites and ensure they remain accessible to their rightful communities. Without these necessary reforms, the waqf system will continue to be plagued by corruption, exploitation, and mismanagement, depriving the Muslim community of valuable resources meant for their benefit.
The repeated instances of corruption, mismanagement, and illegal transactions in waqf boards demand urgent legislative and administrative intervention. Without reforms, waqf properties will continue to be exploited by corrupt officials and political interests, depriving the community of its rightful resources.

News Input By Mansoor Khan National President Sufi Islamic Board

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