Uncertainty looms large over Telangana's Waqf Board's future
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Hyderabad: With uncertainty looming over the existence of the Telangana Waqf Board following the amendment of the Waqf Act 2025, the state govt has sought advice legal advice from the advocate general and law department on whether the existing board should continue.
According to official sources, the govt has requested guidance on the matter.
Meanwhile, the minority welfare department has reportedly directed Telangana Waqf Board chairman Syed Azmatullah Husseni not to convene any board meetings until further orders.
The issue came to the fore after chairman Husseni wrote a letter to the chief executive officer of the board last month, requesting that a meeting be convened. As the amended Waqf Act has come into force and there is no stay on its implementation from the
Supreme Court
, Telangana waqf board CEO Md Asadullah sought the opinion on the matter.
Sources noted that the chairman has been forwarding files to the CEO.
Officials said that under Section 14 of the amended Waqf Act, the composition of the board has undergone significant changes. While elected members are allowed to complete their terms, all nominated members are required to step down. The state govt is mandated to reconstitute the board in accordance with the new provision of Section 14.
"As of now, the board comprises eight members.
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While five are nominated, including the chairman, three are elected, including one from the bar council and two Muthawalis. However, as per the new Act, one Muthawali is allowed, in addition to other elected and nominated members. Moreover, as per the new Act, the elected members should be more than the nominated," a senior official of the minority welfare department said.
While the state govt has been adopting a wait-and-watch approach, similar to other states like Karnataka, pending the Supreme Court's verdict on several petitions challenging the new Waqf Act.
However, the recent board meetings and decisions taken by the chairman have placed the govt in a fix, prompting it to seek the opinion of the advocate general.
However, the chairman, on his part, argued that the last Waqf board meeting was held in October 2024 and several public issues and grievances are still pending. He asserted that it is in the public interest to address these issues. "The board has every power to take up the issues, take decisions and pass resolutions," the chairman informed the govt.
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