Encroachments of Wakf properties — donated buildings or lands for Muslim religious or charitable purposes — grew up by 5 to 7 per cent in last one year prompting Parliament to pass the Bill protecting Wakf board properties.
According to the latest records with the Ministry of Minority Affairs, 1,053 properties have been illegally occupied by Government agencies and 18,388 properties encroached upon by private bodies or individuals.
Data also shows 75 per cent of these properties are now embroiled in legal battles. According to rough estimates, there are over two lakh Wakf properties spreading over four lakh acre lands across the States, of which not more than 10 per cent are registered.
“According to our records, there has been a marginal increase of 5 to 7 per cent in encroachments since last year. But this figure is mostly underreported as most Wakf board properties are not even registered. In reality, the figure must be at least five times higher and will only increase if State Wakf boards do not sit up but act,” a Ministry of Minority Affairs official said.
“To bring in some order to this problem of misuse of Wakf board properties, our Ministry had sought Rs 30 crore from the Centre in 2009 for the purpose of digitising Wakf board property records. While the money has been given to State boards, but even the basic survey process of Wakf board properties hasn’t happened. So, if there is no accountability, encroachments are bound to be rampant,” official added.
The Bill to check rampant encroachment of Wakf board properties and make them commercially viable was recently passed by Parliament. The Bill proposes to extend the lease period of Wakf properties from three to 30 years. It also makes encroachment a cognisable and non-bailable offence, providing for a maximum punishment of two years rigorous imprisonment.
“Encroachments are a huge problem dogging the Wakf properties. Huge areas of Wakf lands are either in possession of encroachers or leased or rented out at ridiculously low prices,” Ministry of Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan said during a media interaction.
“The Opposition cooperated with us in the passage of the Bill. This will hugely impact the minority welfare,” Khan added.The Minister, who has been cracking the whip on State boards for registering Wakf properties with the Wakf Council, said, “Once a law is made, Wakf boards can register FIRs against people who are in illegal possession of these charitable lands. Getting them evicted would also take much less time as encroachments would invite severe penalties,” he said.