An estimated 6 lakh acres of land spread across the country belongs to the Wakfs. The mismamangement of the Wakf land by people with political connections has been alarming. The Centre must take stern measures to check gross irregularities
Shshank Saurabh
The UPA government had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Justice Rajindar Sachar to report on social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India. This committee submitted its report in 2006 and since then political parties across the spectrum have used this as a tool to harvest the vote bank. On one hand, the left- leaning parties raised concern at various social indicators highlighted in the report and,on the other hand, the right wing ideologues blamed the Congress for giving a legitimate colour to its appeasement politics by using the report as a tool to further its agenda.
The Committee highlighted the impropriety in managing the affairs of Wakf properties across the country and a separate chapter was dedicated to cover this matter. Amongst various recommendations given by the committee, utilizing the economic potential of wakf assets was emphasized in the report.
It recommended a complete revamp in management of the wakf to fulfill the objectives and advocated a series of reforms which were supposed to have started within the Muslim society. Barring a few recommendations which required change in legislation, most of the suggestions were in the nature of change in pattern over “indoor management” of wakf, which is a socio-religious institution.
This is a fact that all the wakf properties are managed by those who are influential and this is the root cause behind inaction in this matter. State governments continue to oblige them by not taking any action on the recommendations and expect that the religious leaders will mobilise the community behind the party. There is a pattern which is followed by almost every influential/controversial religious leader and they issue fatwa (authoritative opinion) at the time of election or poke their nose in every sensitive issue. These religious dictates have nothing to do with the welfare of the community. For example Shahi Imam favored BJP in 2004 elections and in subsequent elections the Congress and AAP became his favourite.
Wakf owns vast packet of lands and total area is estimated around more than 6 lakh acres spread across the country and it includes commercial property also. Book value of this land is Rs. 6,000 Crores and eleven years back the committee estimated the market value 1.2 Lakh Crores.Annual income from the property having worth of Rs. 1.2 lakh crores was Rs. 163 crores only and these numbers are enough to explain the extent of corruption in wakf boards. Azam Khan, who was minister of Wakf properties in the UP government is accused of diverting more than Rs. 500 crores and if this is the case of one particular state then one can just imagine the level of loot at pan India level. Very recently the UP government dissolved the state wakf board after the financial irregularity surfaced and central wakf board also highlighted the matter in its report. An elected government can’t abdicate its responsibilities and look towards judiciary for solution of each and every problem. Keeping in view the allegations and primary evidence received in the matter the UP government has rightly taken the corrective step.
If the wakf properties are managed in a proper manner , they can generate additional income and the additional resource can be used for the uplift of deprived class. Empowerment comes from self-sufficiency and appropriate measures should be taken after considering the recommendations of the committee. Transparency in financial dealings of the wakf board is very much needed and even the Sachar Committee recommended that all the wakfs should be compulsorily brought under the scheme of “financial audit.
Discussion over wakf properties is incomplete without discussing the manner in which government manages Hindu temples. Various state governments have enacted Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Acts to assume financial and management control over Hindu temples. The Government control over temples was taken on the pretext of curbing the corruption but the fact is government officials are more corrupt and this model is failed. The Enactment of HR & CE Act is discriminatory against majority community because the management of religious institutions belonging to minority community is completely in the hands of community members while government controls the Hindu religious institutions by appointing executive officers. Religious institutions belonging to any section of society must be treated equally and should not be looked with a different lens. In fact, the corpus and endowments received by a temple are appropriated by the state for purposes which are neither religious nor charitable. Temple properties are allotted by executives at throw away prices and situation is similar to Wakf assets.
Wakfs should not remain untouched and must not be allowed to function in the manner they are running currently. Governments should think of the public interest at large and vote bank politics should not be a roadblock in a reform which is meant for the betterment of the society. Similarly, the government has no business to run the management of temples and authoritative encroachment over Hindu temples should also come to an end. No government dared to change the existing scenario due to fear of vote-bank backlash but the question remains the same that can a secular democracy afford to bow down to the pressure created by few individuals with vested interest. Be it appeasement or fear mongering both are dangerous for the society.
(The writer is a Chartered Accountant and Anti Money-Laundering Specialist)
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