Waqf Board

120 petitions challenging Waqf Act pending before courts, Delhi HC told

The Delhi High Court was on Wednesday informed by the Centre that nearly 120 writ petitions challenging one or more provisions of the Waqf Act are pending before various courts in the country. A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, while hearing a PIL by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay assailing certain provisions of the same law, asked the central government counsel to seek instructions on taking steps for the consolidation of all the cases. Counsel for central government prays for time to take appropriate steps and seek instructions for consolidation of all such cases, said the bench also comprising Justice Sachin Datta. Centre, in an application filed in the present petition, sought an extension of three months for filing the reply and said apart from the instant case, nearly 120 writ petitions challenging one or more provisions of the Waqf Act 1995, are pending before various courts. It submitted that it was essential to ensure that a clear and consistent view is

HC asks Waqf Board to file plea against Centre's decision on properties

The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the Delhi Waqf Board to file a separate substantive petition to challenge the Centre's decision to take away 123 waqf properties. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri refused to grant any interim relief in the board's application filed in a pending petition challenging the Centre's decision to re-examine the de-listing of its 123 properties. You file a fresh substantive petition to challenge the Centre's February 8 letter, the judge told the counsel for the board and listed the application along with the pending petition on August 4. The Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) recently decided to take over 123 properties of the Delhi Waqf Board, including mosques, dargah and graveyards, based on the report of a two-member committee. Board chairman Amanatullah Khan has said the report of the committee was not shared with the board, and added that a case challenging its formation was already pending in the high ..

Delhi Waqf Board moves HC against Centre's decision: Amanatullah Khan

The Delhi Waqf Board has moved the High Court against the Centre's decision to take over 123 Waqf properties, Board chairman Amanatullah Khan said on Monday. He asserted that the 123 properties are with the Waqf Board for long and the Centre was bypassing the law and courts in trying to "occupy it forcibly". The Land and Development Office (L&DO) of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs recently decided to take over the 123 properties of the Delhi Waqf Board, including mosques, dargah and graveyards.

Waqf board staff threaten to protest outside CM house against pending dues

With their salaries pending for the past several months, staff of Delhi Waqf Board went on strike on Friday, with Imams and Muazzins of the mosques affiliated to the board threatening to protest outside the Chief Minister's residence. The Waqf Board employees, majority of them contractual, have not been paid their salaries for the past 3-4 months, said an employee of the board. "We have already informed the Waqf Board authorities including the divisional commissioner about our problems but there is no development so far. The decision to go on strike was taken as a last resort," said the employees preferring not to be named. It was also claimed by the Imams and Muazzins of mosques maintained by the Waqf Board that they were also not paid their monthly wages for over five months. "If Delhi government does not work out a solution, we will soon stage a protest outside the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal," said an Imam. No immediate reaction was available from Waqf Board Ch

3 controversial issues to be tabled as private members bill in Rajya Sabha

Three controversial issues will be introduced as private members bill in the Rajya Sabha on Friday

UP CM Yogi orders investigation of all properties registered under Waqf

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to undertake a probe of all the properties recorded under Waqf

Delhi Waqf Board case: Court sends AAP's Amanatulah Khan to 4-day custody

A Delhi court on Saturday sent AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan to four-day custody of the Anti-Corruption Branch in a case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board recruitment. Special Judge Vikas Dhull passed the order on a plea moved by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), which said it needed to interrogate Khan for a thorough investigation. In its plea seeking Khan's 14-day custody, the agency claimed that five of Khan's relatives were appointed in the board, while 22 were from Okhla, which he represents. A person whose income is Rs 4.32 lakh is receiving cash worth Rs 4 crore..., the prosecution told the court. It also added that an ACB official was manhandled and slapped during the searches conducted on Friday. The entire team was manhandled and fire arms were recovered, it said. The ACB had on Friday arrested Khan after conducting raids at his premises. They said during the searches, the ACB team was allegedly attacked by Khan's relatives and others known to the Ok

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan arrested after raids by anti-corruption branch

The Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch on Friday arrested AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in connection with a graft case, officials said. The ACB is probing alleged irregularities in the recruitment in the Delhi Waqf Board, which Khan heads as the chairman. The ACB on Friday conducted searches at Khan's house and other premises linked to him and seized Rs 24 lakh as well as two unlicensed weapons, the officials said. The ACB had issued a notice to Khan on Thursday for questioning in connection with the Prevention of Corruption Act case registered in 2020. The Okhla MLA was called for questioning at 12 pm on Friday. Khan, the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, had tweeted about the notice, claiming he has been summoned as he built a new Waqf board office. A senior official said the searches were conducted on Friday at the house of Khan and his other locations. A total of Rs 24 lakh in cash, two unlicensed weapon and some cartridges were seized, the official said. Earlier, the ACB had written

Amantullah Khan questioned by CBI in Delhi Waqf Board 'irregularities'

The CBI had in 2016, lodged a case of criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act against Khan and others

MVA govt appointed men with Dawood links to Waqf Board: Fadnavis

The daughter of Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik, who handles the Waqf department and who is currently in jail, repudiated Fadnavis's allegation

Gyanvapi mosque: Sunni Central Waqf Board to challenge ASI survey order

The religious body said it will challenge the Varanasi court order, allowing archaeological survey to take place at the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi mosque site, in the higher court

Karnataka Waqf retracts circular restricting loudspeaker use in mosques

The Karnataka State Board of Auqaf (waqf) withdrew the circular restricting the management of mosques and dargahs from using loudspeakers between 10 pm to 6 am during namaaz

No loudspeakers in mosques, dargahs from 10 pm-6 am: Karnataka Waqf Board

Karnataka State Board of Auqaf has issued a circular to all the mosques and dargahs (mausoleums) in the state not to use loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am

Muslim Personal Law Board says Ayodhya mosque blueprint against Shariat

Zafaryab Jilani, has said the proposed mosque at Dhannipur in Ayodhya, the blueprint of which was launched three days back, was against the Waqf Act and also against Shariat

Delhi govt launches audit into 'irregularities' in Delhi Waqf Board

The AAP government has launched a special audit into alleged irregularities by former Delhi Waqf Board chairman Amanatullah Khan during his tenure, officials said

Sunni Waqf Board-governed trust invites donations for mosque in Ayodhya

The mosque trust has released bank details for donations from a large cross-section of people for constructing a mosque, on the five-acre land in the Dhannipur village in lieu of the Babri mosque

Karnataka Wakf board permits 'namaz' in mosques on Eid on Eid-ul-Azha

Karnataka Wakf Board has permitted the devout to offer 'namaz' inside mosques on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha (Bakrid) on Saturday under the Covid-19 induced guidelines

Waqf Board forms trust for mosque in Ayodhya, construction to begin soon

15-member trust to be headed by Waqf Board chairperson Zufar Ahmad Faruqi

Ayodhya: Rejecting 5-acre alternative land not an option, says Waqf Board

In a historic verdict in November on the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of construction of a temple

The mood in Dhannipur, a village in Ayodhya, chosen for the 'Babri Masjid'

A village outside Ayodhya city has been identified as the 'prominent' site for a mosque to replace the Babri Masjid. Is anyone excited? Ritwik Sharma finds out. Photos by Sanjay K Sharma