Justin D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)
Udupi, Jun 28: District Muslim Okkoota has accused revenue minister, R Ashok of illegally ordering the withdrawal of government land given to Kalmat Mosque even when the name is lawfully registered in the RTC of Kalmat mosque situated in Kodavoor village of the taluk.
Speaking on the subject at the press club in the city, Hussain Kodibengre, president of the association for the protection of civil rights said, "Kalmath Jamia Jumma Mosque is situated at survey number 53A of Kodavoor village of the taluk on an area of 67 cents since 150 years. Tasdeeq is also given to maintain the mosque since pre-independence times. This mosque and the adjoining property is registered in the Wakf Board since 1993. In 2020 all the processes were done and after verification of the required documents, gazette notification was also published."
“Now in the RTC of Kalmat Jumma Masjid, violating all legal procedures, the name of the government is mentioned under the orders of revenue minister R Ashok. So this illegal order should be withdrawn immediately, as earlier, the name of Kalmat Mosque should be mentioned in the RTC and thereby the state BJP government has to do justice."
“Namaz is being offered in this mosque since pre-independence. Tasdeeq is also being given by the government for the maintenance of this mosque. Recently three months of Tasdeeq is also received. All records pertaining to this are with us. There is an old cemetery near the mosque, which is not encroached by Varija Poojary and she is illegally kept that area under her ownership."
“More than 10 acres of land around the mosque is mentioned as government property based on Adangal. This whole property belongs to the mosque. As evidence of the same, the mosque was situated right at the centre of the land.
“Of late, from some years, KT Poojary, residing at Pallijidda area of Kodavoor village and his accomplices, with the intention of creating communal tension in the area and for their selfish gains, had filed a complaint on the land of Kalmat Mosque under OS number 61/2000. Though this complaint was decreed in the lower court, the court of higher appeal had thoroughly investigated the matter under RA number 10/2008 and 18/2008 and had quashed the verdict of the lower court."
“In the midst of this, according to the interim order of Wakf tribunal, as per the appeal of the defendant has clarified that any kind of Kumki rights near the immovable property of the mosque is not there. The Wakf board, in its interim verdict, has authenticated that the Wakf property registered in 1993 in Karnataka Wakf Board is legal."
“The defendants who came to know that they do not have any evidence in the legal battle has installed an idol forcefully on the land of the mosque and covered the same with a tin sheet. In 2008, the then DC had vacated the said idol and had ordered to maintain the status quo till the verdict of the court is announced. Now, the current DC, under pressure from people who are not at all connected to this immovable property and for their personal gains, accepted the appeal with false statements and accordingly sent an appeal to the additional chief secretary, minority welfare, Wakf and Hajj department, Karnataka, based on the unclear and predetermined report from the assistant commissioner and the police department to cancel the notification of the said land.
“Based on the letter of DC, revenue minister, Ashok, without following any rules and regulations, has mentioned the name of government on the RTC of the said land and removed the name of Kalmat Masjid from the document. The order which is given by R Ashok does not contain any signature and seal. What kind of order is this?”
Justice for Kalmat Masjid forum tried to stage a protest near the DC office at Manipal. However, the police convinced the protesters that there is no opportunity to hold a protest under Covid guidelines. Later the protesters submitted an appeal to the tahsildar.
Ibrahim Saheb Kota, president of district Muslim Okkoota, Mohammed Maula, chief secretary, Abdul Rehman Kalkatta, secretary of Sunny United Jamaat, Mohammed Rafiq Gangolli, president of Karnataka Muslim Jamaat, Nazeer Ahmed, president of PFI, Idris Hoode and Maulana Abdul Latif Madani were present.