Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has declared to have taken ‘overall control of all the Shrines including other Assets/Properties’ across J&K and deemed all the local Auqaf/Waqf committees as void.
In a notification, the board refrained all Auqaf committees from taking any decision and warned against interference also, actions under Law.
The development comes a day after the Anjuman Auqaf, management of Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid banned photography (except permission) inside the mosque and urged couples not to sit together on its lawns as a mark of sacrosanct gesture.
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In March, this year the LG administration unanimously elected BJP leader Darakshan Andrabi as the head of the J&K Waqf board which manages Muslim shrines, mosques, and educational institutes in the Himalayan region of Kashmir.
An order issued under 17/JKWB of 2022, dated 17-12-2022, by Chief Executive Officer JK Waqf Board, reads, “In Pursuance to Waqf Act, 1995 extended to Jammu & Kashmir (UT) with the constitution of new J&K Waqf Board has taken overall control of all the Shrines including other Assets/Properties under the Muslim Specified Waqf in whole UT of Jammu & Kashmir.”
“No Association / Self-styled Local Auqaf Committee/Management have any legal standing under the provisions of the Central Waqf Act, 1995 & no such Committee has any kind of registration of validation from J&K Waqf Board,” the order further reads.
“It is hereby notified that all the local Waqf / Auqaf Committees shall be deemed as void ab-initio throughout J&K & any kind of interference by such local Waqf Committees be reckoned illegal & to invite action under Law on all the Waqf Units managed by J&K Waqf Board,” the notification said.
“Therefore all Government Departments & the general public are informed that any communication of any such local committee at any Wagf Unit may not be entertained. This order is issued to ensure a smooth, systematic, transparent & legally viable management system, at all the Waqf Units throughout Jammu and Kashmir,” it said.
Meanwhile, speaking over the issue, the Waqf Chairperson, Darakshan Andrabi told KNO that all the previous Auqaf committees have been disbanded and now they cannot take any decision with regard to the shrines and other religious places falling under the Waqf Board.
“The new committees shall be formed soon,” she added.
It is pertinent to mention that Dastar Bandi (Turban tying) ceremony was banned, donation boxes were sealed and night prayers were re-started by the board recently.
(KNO)
