4 decades on, Wakf Board wakes up to save Ashoorkhana

Yakutpura: The Telangana State Wakf Board has decided to save a section of Ashoorkhana Hussaini Showkath Mansion in Yakutpura, parts of which were sold away in 1980 and 1990. The Board initiated penal action against the individuals. An FIR was recently booked under Rein Bazar police station as part of retrieving the Wakf property currently under possession of one Mir Saber Ali Alvi.
  
On Thursday, Chief Executive Officer, Shahnawaz Qasim asked the police to register criminal case against ‘illegal sale of Wakf Land’ by Jeelani Begum, Chandi Begum and Fatima Bee alias Khairathi Bee and others involved in the ‘illegal activities’. While Jeelani Begum and Chandini Begum sold the Wakf property bearing number 17-4-17 to Saber Ali Alvi through a ‘sale deed’ dated in 1990. Fatima Bee sold another Wakf property in the premises bearing number 17-4-14 in 1980 to Pasha Begum which later encroached upon by same Saber Ali. 

Based on the complaint made by Wakf CEO, an FIR was booked against Jeelani Begum and Chandi Begum under sections 52 (A) of Wakf Act, 1995 by Reiz Bazar police on August 2. In the month of April, the Inspector Auditor Wakf Circle and Surveyor Telangana State Wakf Boad inspected the Ashoorkhana and its attached properties situated at Kaman Shaik Faiz in Yakutpura. It came to light that the property was notified in A P Gazette of 1989. The House bearing number 17-4-17 covering an extent of 142 sq yards and 17-4-14 with an area of 51 sq yards, were notified properties of Wakf. These are part of the property (Ashoorkhana) covering total extent of 36 acres and 35 guntas.  

The BJP, State Executive Member (TS), Haneef Ali, who pursued the matter, has demanded the State government to look into the irregularities of Telangana State Wakf Board. “Locals brought this issue to our notice and when the Wakf Board was not keen enough to take up the matter I had to knock on the doors of High Court which directed the officials to cancel the sale deeds being executed on the Wakf property,” he informed.

BY Syed Mujtaba Hussain Abidi