Nearly two-and-a-half years after reorganising the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir, the Government of India has nominated five persons from diverse backgrounds as members of the Waqf Board for J&K Union Territory.
In a significant step towards the constitution of the Waqf Board in Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Minority Affairs Ministry has appointed five persons as members of the body entrusted with the maintenance of religious properties of Muslims in UT.
According to a notification, a copy of which has the news agency, Dr Darakshan Andrabi, has been appointed as the Board’s chairperson.
The notification states that Andrabi has been appointed under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 14 of The Waqf Act-1995.
According to the notification, Syed Muhammad Hussain has been nominated as a member of the Board under clause (C) of sub-section (1) of Section 14 of the law governing Waqf Boards’ constitution in States UTs.
Under this clause, one person from amongst Muslims, who has professional experience in town planning or business management, social work, finance or revenue, agriculture and development activities, is nominated as a body member.
As per the notification, Dr Ghulam Nabi Haleem and Sohail Kazmi have been appointed members of the body clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 14 of the law.
Under this provision, one person from recognised scholars in Shia and Sunni Islamic Theology is appointed as a body member.
The Centre has also nominated Nawab Din (Regional Director Survey and Land Records, Udhampur) as a member of the body under clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 14 of the Waqf Act.
As per this provision, one Muslim officer not below the rank of joint secretary to the state government is appointed as a body member.
It is worthwhile to mention that the laws governing Waqf properties in Jammu & Kashmir were repealed in August 2019 through the Jammu & Kashmir Re-organisation Act.
The central Waqf law was also applicable to J&K UT from October 31, 2019.
