New Delhi, Feb 22 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to grant an interim order on a plea by the Delhi Waqf Board. However, the High Court asked the board to file a separate petition against the central government’s decision to cancel 123 waqf properties.
Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri on Wednesday denied the interim order on the petition. The court said that the Delhi Waqf Board should file a separate petition.
The court listed the earlier petition on August 4 for further hearing.
The Delhi Waqf Board recently sent an application through advocate Wajeeh Shafiq in a case challenging the central government’s decision.
Delhi Waqf Board Chairman Amatullah Khan said that the 123 properties have been with the Waqf Board for a long time and the central government is trying to forcibly occupy it by ignoring the law and the courts.
The petition filed by the Board sought a direction whereby the Central Government was directed to furnish the petitioner’s report dated May 15, 2017 by the one-man panel on May 19, 2016.
It also sought an order to quash all decisions and actions taken by the central government and all its departments in connection with the report of the one-man panel.
After giving reasonable opportunity to the petitioner to make submissions regarding the said report, the petitioner requested that the Central Government be directed to take a fresh decision on the report submitted by the one-man committee.
It also sought a direction to cancel the alienation/disposal/allotment of Waqf Cemetery known as Khadimi Kapristan, South Inderpat, Mathura Road comprising Khasra No. 484, Village Inderpat, Mathura Road, Delhi or any part thereof. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) or anyone.
The petitioner said the central government appointed a two-member panel in violation of natural justice as the report of the earlier appointed one-member panel, the reason for its rejection or the process was not shared with the Delhi Waqf Board. The report of the one member committee was shared with the Delhi Waqf Board.
Between the appointment of the one-member committee and the subsequent two-member committee, the Center has allotted one of these 123 waqf properties to the ITBP on a permanent basis, thereby interfering in the affairs of the existing two-member committee. (ANI)
