ATR on wakf probe in 3 weeks
The state government has decided to appoint a three-member expert committee to prepare an action taken report (ATR) on the A.T.A.K. Shaikh judicial commission, which was formed to probe irregularities into wakf lands across Maharashtra. The committee has been tasked with preparing the ATR within three weeks. The report of the judicial commission was submitted before chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday.
This judicial commission, which was appointed in 2007 following alleged irregularities into wakf lands, submitted its partial report to the government in April 2011, but that was gutted in the Mantralaya fire last year. The process of preparation of the ATR was restarted after the government obtained a certified copy of the report from the commission. After the uproar over the delay in the commission report last month, the chief minister had assured the Legislative Assembly that the report, along with the ATR, would be made public in the next month. Thus, a high-level meeting, headed by the CM, was held at Mantralaya on Thursday. Minority affairs minister Arif Naseem Khan was also present in the meeting.
According to sources, secretaries from revenue, urban development and law and judiciary departments will finalise the ATR that has to be submitted in both the Houses of the state legislature in the forthcoming Winter Session.
“It was decided to appoint a dedicated officer of the rank of deputy secretary for the development of wakf properties across the state. The officer would have the inventory of the properties and it would be his duty to personally inspect the wakf properties to prevent further encroachment,” said a senior official, on condition of anonymity.
“The ATR will also have new lease rates of the wakf lands proposed in accordance with the ready reckoner,” he added.
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