GoI appoints Waqf Board members for J-K

SRINAGAR — Nearly two-and-a-half years after the reorganization of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of India (GoI) has nominated five persons from diverse backgrounds as members of the Waqf Board for J-K Union Territory.

In a significant step towards the constitution of the Waqf Board in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Minority Affairs Ministry has appointed five persons as members of the body entrusted with the maintenance of religious properties of Muslims in UT.

According to a notification, a copy of which is in possession of news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr Darakshan Andrabi has been appointed as chairperson of the Board.

The notification states that Andrabi has been appointed under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 14 of The Waqf Act-1995.

According to the notification, Syed Muhammad Hussain has been nominated as a member of the Board under clause © of sub-section (1) of Section 14 of the law governing the constitution of Waqf Boards in States and UTs.

Under this clause, one person from amongst Muslims, who has professional experience in town planning or business management, social work, finance or revenue, agriculture and development activities, is nominated as a member of the body.

As per the notification, Dr Ghulam Nabi Haleem and Sohail Kazmi have been appointed as members of the body under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 14 of the law. Under this provision, one person each from recognised scholars in Shia and Sunni Islamic Theology are appointed as members of the body.

The Centre has also nominated Nawab Din (Regional Director Survey and Land Records, Udhampur) as a member of the body under clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 14 of the Waqf Act. As per this provision, one Muslim officer not below the rank of joint secretary to the state government is appointed as a member of the body.

It is worthwhile to mention that the laws governing Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir were repealed in August 2019 through the Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act.

The Central Waqf law was also made applicable to J-K UT from October 31, 2019.