Janab K.Rahman Khan saheb and Khaleequr Rahman
I welcome the decision of Janab Rahman Khan saheb for outsourcing proposal of the computerisation and the digitisation of the wakf board records and I had already suggested this to the Hon'ble Minister of Minority Affairs Janab Rahman Khan saheb about three months back looking at the pace at which the work was going on in our state and inspite of my and the wakf Board Chairman's continous efforts and the endeavor, there is not much of the progress as there are difference issues coming in the way which is hampering the pace at which the work is going on and the best way to complete is to give it to the outside agency which can complete this on the timelines given to them. However, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are lagging much behind the stipulated time but the fact is that UP and AP has the highest number of wakf properties and the manpower is too little and insufficient to handle this magnitude of work. There is also least ineterest shwon by the Principle Secretaries and the Secretaries of the Minorities Welfare Depaertment in our state so far except Mr.Dana Kishore who really took some interest in this work and due to which whatever 25-30% work has been completed, it is due to his interest. The subsequent secretaries never bothered inspite of my repeated memorandums to them and as a matter of fact for the last four years, there is total lawlessness in our state and no body is really bothered about the minorities affairs...which is the bare fact..but very unfortunate thing...
Review Meeting when Shri Dana Kishore IAS was the Secretary Minority Welfare AP
Delay in computerisation of Wakf records
Lamenting slow pace of work in computerisation of records of Wakf Board properties across the country, Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan today said that his ministry is exploring the possibility of outsourcing the task to some other agency.
Khan, addressing chairmans and CEOs of different Waqf Boards during the national conference on Waqf (Amendment) Act 2013, said that the Phase I of the computerisation scheme was to be completed during the 11th Plan itself, but it has been found that the progress work is very slow and the work is not completed yet.
The first phase work as outlined in the scheme needs to be completed by opting alternative arrangements of outsourcing to some agency. We are also exploring possibility of outsourcing it to a different agency," Khan said.
He, however, said that the final decision will be taken after a through discussion.
Khan lamented that due to slow pace of work and non-completion of the first phase, the Waqf Boards could not move to the second phase of the scheme under which GIS mapping of Waqf properties needs to be done. This mapping envisages to help in protection from encroachers, he said.
"Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh are lagging far behind. If computerisation in UP and AP is done, it will complete 85 per cent of the scheme. But out of the total 3.28, only 50,000 computerisation has been done. How will
transparency take place if there is no computerisation," Khan said.
He, however, said that the ministry has decided that whatever computerisation and digitalisation has been done till now, it will be brought into the public domain.
"Earlier, it was decided that the records will be brought out after the completion of the scheme. But now whatever has been achieved will be put on the Internet and when it will be completed, the entire thing will be given on the Internet.
Now, people can get details from any part of the world," Khan added.
He said that the meeting of the chairmans and the CEOs of the Waqf Board is called every six months to discuss the implementation of the Waqf Act.
Khan said that his ministry also intends to bring a stand-alone legislation called the Wakf Property (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupant) Act to check encroachment.
This act will protect Wakf properties from encroachment.
It will deter encroachment, alienation and unauthorised occupation and allow for better management of Wakf properties so that the income generated through those properties could be utilised for the benefit of the community," Khan said.
He said that despite having lakhs of acres of land, lack of development will lead to encroachment which is why in the amended act, the definition of encroachers has been strengthened.
"Now, those who encroach and if he do not have any authority or document, be it government, individual or any organisation, he will be an encroacher. We have added section 52 A which says that those who come under the definition of
encroacher has done a cognisable offence and is punishable under law," Khan said.
He added that earlier, one had to give notice, then one had to go to court and it was not cognisable. This is a major amendment in the bill, he added.
The Union minister said that now it will be mandatory for every 'Mutawali' to file return with audit. "Now, If the income of someone is over the taxable limits, he has to file Income tax returns. If one does not do that, one has to pay penalty. It will be mandatory for every 'Mutawali' to file return with audit or else action will be taken," Khan said.
He added that earlier Central Waqf Council was merely an advisory body to the central government and was a "toothless" body.
"But through amendment, the council can advise Waqf board, state as well as central government. The advise which the council gives, it will be almost mandatory. If state or Waqf differs, it will go to adjudication," added Khan.
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