Efforts must be made to increase the income of State Waqf Board: Patel

Bhopal: Minority and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ramkhelawan Patel has said that the properties of the Waqf Board in the state must be taken care of in such a way that the income of the board can be increased. He also laid stress on computerization of the activities of Waqf Board to bring transparency in its functioning. Patel was reviewing the works of Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board at Mantralaya on Monday.

In the meeting it was informed that the 14 thousand 901 properties are registered uunder Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board. Their maintenance work is currently being undertaken by 2500 committees. It was also informed that the work of computerization and digitization of assets of Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board has been completed, the details of which are available on the Central government’s official website www.waqf.gov.in. It was informed that District Waqf Committees have been formed in 39 districts. District Waqf Committee are yet to be constituted in the remaining 13 districts.

It was informed at the meeting that the auction of Waqf agricultural land in the state is being undertaken by the Tehsildar of the concerned area whereas according to amendment in the Waqf Property Lease Act, the Waqf Board has been authorized in the auction work of the property of Waqf. By adopting this process, the income of Waqf Board can be increased to a great extent.

Commissioner Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare MK Agarwal directed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), State Waqf Board, Mohammad Ahmed Khan, to conduct the process of auction of Waqf Board’s agricultural land and other properties online. He also reviewed the status of court cases related to Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board. Fifteen cases of the Board are pending with the Supreme Court and 255 cases are pending in the High Court. The process of audit of the works of the committees constituted of the Waqf Board was also reviewed in the meeting.

CEO, Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board informed that letters are constantly being written by the central government regarding the second survey of the state’s Waqf properties. This work of the survey is being done through the Survey Commissioner. In the meeting, Patel gave instructions to the Board to lay down a concrete procedure for monitoring of the properties of Waqf Board.