LG stalling constitution of Delhi Waqf Board: Deputy CM

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Wednesday accused Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal of "stalling" the constitution of the city Waqf Board, which was dissolved in October 2016 on charges of "irregularities".

"After obstructing the Doorstep Delivery of Services and Quality Health for All schemes of the elected government of Delhi, the Lieutenant Governor has now put on hold the constitution of the Delhi Waqf Board without any valid reason," alleged Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

He said the process of constituting the Delhi Waqf Board in accordance with the provisions of Section 14 of the Waqf Act 1995, has been pending since more than a year now, after the previous LG Najeeb Jung had dissolved the Board illegally and usurped the powers of the Board to run it through his officers in complete violation of the law.

"After following all legal processes, the Returning Officer completed the due process for the election of three members of the Board on November 20, 2017," noted the government statement.

Sisodia said that the High Court had asked the LG to put on hold the appointment of only the seventh member of the board. However, Baijal stopped the formation of the board instead, he said.

"Is it because there is a lot of corruption in rent of Wakf Board properties," he asked.

Sisodia said there were gangs who have encroached on Wakf Board land and they don't want an elected government to run the board.

"Why Delhi's LGs, current and former, want to run Wakf Board themselves or through officers?" he asked.

The government officials said the names of the three nominated members of the Board were also approved by the LG himself on December 7, 2017.

"It is surprising and beyond any reasonable understanding that now the LG has taken the view that the constitution of the Waqf Board should be done only after the disposal of the case in the Delhi High Court," said Sisodia.

He said the constitution of the Waqf Board cannot be put on hold simply on the ground that the Delhi High Court has stayed the filling up of the vacancy against a particular category.

"The view taken by the LG is seriously hampering the functioning of the Waqf Board and Imams of various mosques are not getting their salaries," alleged the Deputy Chief Minister.