Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Nov 5: Through an order, the state government has superseded Karnataka Wakf Board. In its place, senior IPS officer, M A Salim, has been appointed to look after the affairs the Board used to handle earlier. He will take charge on Friday November 6.

In a press statement released on Wednesday November 4, state Wakf minister, Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan, said that an explanation had been sought from the Board, after listing out ten charges against it. As the replies given it were found to be unsatisfactory, a decision was taken to dissolve it, he added.

The Corps of Detectives investigation about the irregularities in the functioning of the Wakf Board has proved eight of the listed charges, while another charge was partially proved. Because of these reasons, and with a view to protect the assets of the Board, the decision to supersede was taken, he has explained.

Pointing out a particular case, Mumtaz Ali Khan noted that the Wakf Board had entered into a compromise with an individual for disposing off 2.34 acres of the Wakf property near Lalbaug in the city for one crore rupees, even when the same individual was involved in a dispute with the Board that was pending in the supreme Court. The government’s stand is that the Wakf Board should have taken steps to stop alienation of its property instead of helping individuals to gain control over its assets, he said.