The state Wakf Board has come in for sharp criticism for making “compromises” with land grabbers who demolished the historic Qutub Shahi mosque at Balapur. It was when public protested mounted against the land grabbing and demolition of the 400-year-old mosque at Balapur, that the Wakf Board initiated legal proceedings against the land grabbers a few months back.
Following this, the Pahadishareef police had arrested five accused men and sent them to jail on the charge of land grabbing and under several other Sections of the IPC. But now, the Wakf Board authorities submitted an affidavit in the AP High Court, stating that they “don’t have any intention to prosecute the accused” and they had “no objection to quash the case.” “While the police is going ahead with the case, Wakf Board, the body meant to protect the Wakf properties, is rather protecting the culprits who not only grabbed the Wakf land but also demolished a historic mosque,” allege activists who are seeking protection of Wakf properties.
The Wakf Board justified its move saying it had found out that the demolished mosque was in a dilapidated condition and subsequently, after verification, it was noticed that the Survey numbers of the land where the mosque was situated “are not there in the State Wakf Official Gazette.” In the sworn affidavit, Syed Shabbar Basha, the Wakf Protection Officer, authorised by the State Wakf Board, has said that, by way of compromise, the board is ready to settle the case in the interest of the Muslim community. But, the activists say the Wakf Board does not have any power to decide on the title of a property as to whether it is Wakf property or not, and only the Wakf Tribunal is the appellate authority to decide this.
“As per the Wakf Act 1995, Section 40, after an inquiry was done on a property, the Wakf Board should regain the properties which are not included in the gazette by submitting the required petition with the tribunal. But, instead of protecting the properties, the board is protecting the land grabbers,” says M.K. Hassan, one of the activists.