The state Wakf Board has decided to hire eminent advocates to challenge the interim order of the Supreme Court and get a favourable result in the Manikonda land dispute.
The apex court, in a recent interim order, stayed the AP High Court's ruling on Manikonda land as Wakf land and Wakf Tribunal's injunction on the same, after a petition by the APIIC. In order to discuss strategies on how to proceed further, the state Wakf Board will hold a special board meeting on Monday with legal experts. Wakf Board chairman Ghulam Afzal Biabani (Khusro Pasha) said eminent advocates will participate in the meeting and offer their legal advice.
According to sources, the Wakf Board is likely to approach senior SC advocates like Rajiv Dhawan to fight the case on its behalf. “Our case is strong and this was proved by the statement of the government that it will compensate the Board,” said Mr Biabani. He said that the Board may appoint eminent lawyers in the hope of getting a favourable judgment. With regard to compensation for Wakf land, the advice of religious scholars would be taken, he said, and vowed that the Board will never compromise with the government on the Wakf land issue.
On April 3, the High Court had dismissed writ petitions filed by the state government, the APIIC and infrastructure development firm Lanco Hills Ltd challenging a notification declaring 1,600 acres of Manikonda village as the property of Dargah Hussain Shah Vali, and thereby Wakf property. The Supreme Court stay order sent shock waves among the Muslim community. More shocking was that the government took the services of attorney-general G.E. Vahanvati in the matter.