Move to alter Wakf Board composition flayed

By J.S.Ifthekhar

HYDERABAD, MAY 6. The recent modification of rules governing the constitution of the Wakf Board has stirred a hornet's nest with many seeing in this a clever move by the State Government to capture the institution. The Government has issued a notification for reconstitution of the present Board whose term is expiring on June 27.

The changes made in the electoral college reducing the quota of members of the Legislative Assembly from two to one and increasing the representation of "Mutawallis" (caretakers) from one to two has raised the hackles of the Opposition, particularly the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). The latter is planning to approach the court and this might scuttle the election process scheduled to begin from May 28.

Earlier, under the 1954 Act the State Government used to nominate all the nine members. However, as per section 14 (1) (b) of the new Wakf Act 1995 the Board is to be constituted with five elected and four nominated members. The present Board was constituted as per this Act in 1996. This time round, the Government has decided to slightly alter the composition of the Board by cutting down the quota of MLAs under the elected category from two to one and increasing that of Mutawallis from one to two.

"This is nothing but a clever strategy to politically rehabilitate the ruling party members," says Mr. Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, MP and MIM president.

He recalls the crucial role played by his party in Parliament for enactment of the Wakf Act 1995 and support extended by it for constitution of the first Board under the Act in 1996. But now by reducing the representation of the MLAs, the Government has shown disrespect to the State Legislature, Mr. Owaisi feels.

In the present Board, under the elected category, there are two MLAs--Dr. S. Khaleel Basha (TDP) and Mr. M.A. Gafoor (CPI-M) and one MP, Mr. K.M. Saifullah (TDP) besides a Mutawalli and a Bar Council member. In all there are 11 Muslim MLAs in the Assembly now. Of this, four belong to the MIM and three to the Congress. "Since our chances of getting elected and also wresting the chairman's post are bright, the Government has reduced the quota of legislators," the Majlis leader points out.

Many feel the Government ought to have elicited public opinion and at least consulted all the Muslim legislators before effecting change in the composition of the electoral college. "There is no need to consult anybody as under the Act the Government is empowered to make the change," explains Syed Yousuf Ali, Government Whip and Chairman, Wakf Board.

The Government has increased the representation for Mutawallis as the number of wakf institutions having an annual income of above Rs. 1 lakh have gone up from 22 to 87, he says.

Meanwhile, a meeting held under the chairmanship of renowned scholar, Maulana Hameeduddin Aquil Husami, on Sunday urged the Government to appoint eminent persons to the Board under the nominated category. In this section, the Government is empowered to nominate two members of any prestigious Muslim organisations, one Islamic scholar and an official of the rank of Deputy Secretary.

The meeting attended by Muslim educationists, clerics, social activists, retired bureaucrats at the Madina Education Centre decided to call on the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, with a list of names of eminent persons for nomination to the Board.

The Chief Minister attaches great importance to good governance and transparency in public affairs. But this is sadly missing in the Wakf Board. The ensuing elections to the Board is a good opportunity to cleanse the Augean stables by nominating men of calibre and integrity, the Muslim intelligentsia feels. But with the Majlis preparing for a legal battle, the reconstitution of the Board appears to hang in balance.

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Section  : Southern States
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