Setting up of National Wakf Dev Corp suggested

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) The Central Wakf Board Council has decided to expedite the setting up of National Wakf Development Corporation and also to take appropriate steps for exemption of wakf properties from the purview of the various legislations as recommended by the Rajendra Sachar Committee.

The 52nd meeting of the Central Wakf Council held here today with Minority Affairs Minister and Central Wakf Council Chairman A R Antulay stressing the need for improving the management and administration of the wakf properties throughout the country.

The minister said the Central Wakf Council had to act as a guiding force to various State Wakf Boards to improve the management of wakf properties and also to get rid of unauthorised occupation of the properties in various parts of the country.

The Council members said necessary steps should be initiated to set up a National Wakf Development Corporation.

As far as the exemption of wakf properties from the purview of certain acts was concerned, it was informed to the members that Council were already on the job and collecting various details of the laws as applicable in those areas and also to examine how wakf properties can be exempted from the purview of these laws with a view to manage them in a better way.

Some of the states have responded in this regard and some are yet to send in their reactions. The members were assured that the matter will be expedited.

They were also informed that the Central Wakf Council will send its views on the proposed amendments in the Wakf Act, 1995 for which a JPC was already constituted.

It was decided that Central Wakf Council will keep an eye on illegal transfers of wakf properties in any part of the country and will bring these to the notice of the authorities concerned.

The meeting was attended by Syed Shahabuddin, former M P, Salman Khurshid, former Union Minister, Maulana Mohmmad Fazlur Rahim Mujadadi and Justice (Retd) Naseemuddin and other members of the Council.

UNI