PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The Uttarakhand Waqf Board will take action against encroachments on its properties, with a Waqf Tribunal expected to be formed by the end of this month, the Uttarakhand Waqf Board chairman Shadab Shams said. He stated that the approval for the 2022 Waqf Board notification has been granted and once the tribunal is established, strict measures will be taken against illegal occupations of Waqf properties in the State.
Shams also announced that the board has decided to increase the rent on Waqf properties. He stated that the board’s revenue is low and many valuable properties are still rented out for as little as Rs 20 or Rs 25 per month, which is not financially sustainable. The board plans to revise rents to align with market rates, aiming to generate more income that can be used for the welfare of those in need, he said. He claimed that the Waqf Amendment Act is also being introduced to ensure rightful access to Waqf assets for the underprivileged.
He said that Waqf properties are currently occupied by influential individuals rather than those they were meant to benefit. He criticised previous administrations, particularly the Congress party, for not addressing these issues despite decades in power. He cited several instances of alleged encroachments, including properties in Kaliyar, Bhagat Singh Colony and Azad Colony in Dehradun, as well as 17 bighas in Nanda Ki Chowki and various locations across the State, amounting to thousands of hectares. He informed that there are about 2,500 Waqf committees managing nearly 5,000 properties in Uttarakhand. Efforts are being made to digitise these properties, conduct a survey and shift transactions online to improve transparency and administration.
Shams also expressed strong support for the government’s ongoing crackdown on unregistered madarsas in the State. He welcomed chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s initiative, stating that the action against illegally operating religious institutions is justified. Shams said that he believes in Dhami’s stance that those who are right will not be troubled but those who are wrong will not be spared. According to Shams, over 53 illegal madarsas have already been sealed across Uttarakhand as they were allegedly operating in secrecy without proper registration.
The government aims to bring students from such institutions into the mainstream education system, ensuring they receive modern education alongside religious teachings. Shams stated that the government wants these children to have opportunities to achieve success, drawing inspiration from figures like former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
