Maharashtra government to set up Wakf Board tribunal in Nagpur

NAGPUR: Maharashtra government will soon establish a State Wakf Board tribunal here to "streamline" the working of the body and expedite removing of encroachments on the Waqf land.

"The State Wakf Board which has its headquarters in Aurangabad is flooded with work and there is a need for streamlining its working, therefore the government will set up a tribunal in the second capital here (Nagpur)," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in Legislative Assembly during the Question Hour.

Fadnavis intervened when Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse was replying to a question raised by Asif Sheikh (Congress MLA from Malagaon) and Abu Asim Azmi (SP MLA from Mankhurd in Mumbai) on whether the government will increase the strength of the Board.

Khadse earlier informed the House that about one lakh sq ft of Wakf land has been in the possession of some Muslim individuals and organisations and about 70,000 sq ft of the total land has been encroached upon.

"The government will make all-out efforts to vacate the encroachments. The total government land which is given on lease to the Waqf Board is worth more than Rs 10,000 crore," Khadse said.

"Wakf" means the permanent dedication by a person professing Islam, of any movable or immovable property for any purpose recognised by the Muslim law as pious, religious or charitable and it's the mandate of the Board to protect such properties.