Latest news with #WakfBoard
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
HC upholds woman's custodianship of dargah in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
MUMBAI: The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition by an individual who sought to be declared the mutawalli, or custodian, of the Dargah Sayyed Shah Nizamuddin in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The individual had challenged the eligibility of a woman mutawalli, highlighting that Islamic law does not permit women to be mutawallis, or custodians of wakf properties. Observing that the individual had repeatedly approached the court on the same issue for years, the court declared the suit as 'vexatious', firmly dismissing the decades-long litigation. The legal battle over the custodianship of Dargah Sayyad Shah Nizamuddin, situated at Nizamuddin Chowk in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, dates to 1966, when Gulam Moinoddin alias Kaisaruddin, died in 1965. He was survived by a wife and daughter. In 1996, a civil court passed a decree regarding the custodianship of the dargah, declaring Kaisaruddin's daughter Nayyarjahan Begum and his wife Mohamudi Begum as mutawallis. This decision was simultaneously recognised by the Maharashtra Wakf Board. The petitioner, Syed Saleemuddin, 51, stated that there were ten other legal heirs and successors of Kaisaruddin, including himself. Saleemuddin's father, Syed Naseeruddin, had challenged the decree in 1975, questioning Nayyarjahan Begum's eligibility to hold the office. However, the suit was dismissed in 1981, a decision upheld by an appellate court in 1984. The decree was challenged again, in 2011 and in 2012, by Saleemuddin, but was rendered invalid as the courts rejected the appeal repeatedly. During the pendency of the 2011 case, Saleemuddin filed a Wakf suit in 2013, seeking a declaration that the women in question were self-styled custodians of the dargah. Saleemuddin claimed that the Wakf Board had wrongly presumed that Nayyarjahan Begum was the mutawalli of the shrine. He claimed she could not be the mutawalli of the dargah as Islamic law does not permit women to hold that position. Declaring himself as a direct descendant of the dargah's original mutawalli, Saleemuddin claimed he was legally entitled to be appointed as its custodian. He issued a notice to the Wakf Board on April 16, 2012, to accept his status as mutawalli and remove Nayyarjahan Begum from the office. Following this, his father, Syed Naseeruddin also approached the Bombay High Court in 2014, challenging the order passed by the Maharashtra Wakf Board, accepting Nayyarjahan Begum's eligibility to hold the office of custodian. He claimed the order passed by the Board was illegal and void ab initio, on grounds that women could not be appointed as mutawallis of dargahs. Nayyarjahan Begum, on the other hand, urged the high court to reject Saleemuddin's claims, arguing that Saleemuddin lacked the locus standi to file the suit. She stated that he was claiming the right based on succession through his father. Advocates Anand P Bhandari and Najam E Deshmukh for Nayyarjahan Begum and the Maharashtra Wakf Board stated that Saleemuddin was a habitual litigant and files vexatious proceedings on the same cause. They added that Nayyarjahan Begum's entitlement had also been approved by a civil court. According to them, no error could be found in the order passed by the Wakf Board. In its judgment, on April 30, the single-judge bench of Justice SG Chapalgaonkar upheld the decision of the Wakf Board and rejected the plaint. It observed that the plaint clearly demonstrates the intention of the plaintiff to harass Nayyarjahan Begum, who had already been declared a successor to Jahagirdar Sayyad Shah Gulam Moinoddin, mutawalli of the dargah. Dismissing the suit, the court found no merit in the civil revision application.
Hans India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Uttam flags off Haj pilgrims for holy journey to Mecca
Hyderabad: Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy reaffirmed the Congress government's unwavering commitment to secularism and protection of minority rights. He was addressing a gathering at Haj House while flagging off a convoy of Haj pilgrims leaving for the holy journey to Mecca on Tuesday night. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that no nation can truly progress without ensuring equal opportunities for all its citizens, especially religious minorities. 'A society that neglects its minorities cannot claim to be democratic or just. Economic empowerment, educational access, and social inclusion are the pillars of true development,' he said. The Minister cautioned against the growing threat of communalism in India, stating that the nation's secular fabric must be safeguarded now more than ever. 'We are at a crossroads where communal narratives are being promoted for short-term political gains. This not only weakens national unity but also threatens the very foundations on which our Constitution stands,' he warned. Reflecting on the inclusive approach of the Congress government in Telangana, Uttam said the Congress government had taken unprecedented steps to empower minorities. 'We've allocated Rs 3,591 crore for minority welfare in this year's budget – the highest in the state's history. Of this, Rs 840 crore has been earmarked under the 'Rajiv Yuva Vikasam' initiative to support jobless minority youth through skill development and employment assistance,' he noted. The Minister also underlined the change in atmosphere since Congress came to power. 'Today, there is a palpable sense of safety and dignity among minorities. Our government is committed to creating an environment where no one has to live in fear because of their identity or beliefs,' he said. Uttam Kumar Reddy appealed to the Haj pilgrims to pray for the prosperity, peace, and unity of the country, especially for Telangana. 'As you embark on this sacred journey, carry with you the hopes of millions. Pray for communal harmony, economic progress, and social justice – not just for yourselves but for every Indian,' he urged. The event was also attended by Telangana Haj Committee Chairman Khusro Pasha Biyabani, Wakf Board Chairman Syed Azmatullah Hussaini, and several prominent religious and community leaders. They joined the Minister in extending warm wishes and blessings to the departing pilgrims.
Hans India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
No final resting place for deceased Muslims in city
Hyderabad: While getting space for living is beyond the common man's reach in Hyderabad, it has become costlier for the dead. With open spaces shrinking due to new construction projects, land grabbers are laying their hands on graveyards, which is adversely impacting burials. The last few years saw the rise of this trend as the real estate value has hit the roof in the city. According to some Wakf activists owing to illegal encroachments on graveyards, several Gazette Notified Muslim graveyards are declared chock-a-block and there is no space for more burials. 'Many Muslim graveyards are under the control of land grabbers where dead bodies are not allowed to be buried. People are facing a lot of difficulties in finding burial space,' said Nayeemullah Shareef of Waqf Properties Protection Cell. As a result, burials have become costly affairs. Kin of the deceased have to shell down anything from Rs 10,000 to Rs one lakh depending on the spiritual value attached to the graveyard. Things will become easier if a family member lies buried in a grave and the family agrees to bury the new victim in the same grave. 'Taking advantage of the situation, caretakers of the graveyards are selling old grave space for up to Rs 30, 000. The rates are higher in graveyards inside big dargah premises. I request the state government to conduct a survey of Muslim graveyards in the city and remove all illegal encroachments. Graveyard caretakers must be asked to fix nominal charges for burial spaces, while those charging exorbitant amounts must face criminal charges,' demanded another activist, Mohd Habeebuddin. Habeeb pointed out that graveyards were vanishing in upmarket areas like Puppalguda due to rapid urbanisation. As per the Gazette published in 1984, the area is more than nine acres. 'This graveyard has now shrunk to 100 sq yards. This is the scale of encroachment with active political backing,' alleged Habeeb. In the past Wakf Board was accused of collusion with land grabbers. The graveyard committee of Dargah Syed Ali Kulle Shah Darvesh at Petbasheerabad under Quthbullapur alleged that whatever remained of the graveyard fell into the hands of the land sharks, with the active connivance of a Wakf inspector and its CEO in 2020. The committee had alleged that the Wakf Board had not only failed to protect its interests, but its officials were in nexus with the builder, who approached the High Court claiming the land parcel meant for graveyard at Survey No.39 of Petbasheerabad.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Haryana CM accuses Punjab's AAP govt of playing ‘dirty politics'
Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini accused the AAP govt in Punjab led by Bhagwant Mann of playing "dirty politics" over water. Interacting with the media on the sidelines of an event organized by the BJP on the Wakf Board bill at the party office in Panchkula, Haryana CM said that it was for the first time there has been a cut on the water for drinking purposes. Saini said, "Agar Punjab pyasa rehta hai, hum apne hisse ka paani kaat kar k Punjab k logo ko de denge, hamari woh sanskriti hai (If Punjab remains thirsty, we will cut our share of water, and give it to the people of Punjab, that is our culture)." He said that he had earlier also advised Mann to focus on politics of development. "There is a year left for Punjab polls, "theek thak kaat lo" (have a good time), do some work," Saini said. Taking a jibe at former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, the Haryana CM said that in the run up to Delhi polls, Kejriwal had accused Haryana of "mixing poison in Yamuna", and now he is doing all such things behind the scenes. Referring to Punjab as Haryana's elder brother, Saini termed Punjab as "the land of Gurus". He cited the example of Bhai Kanhaiya, a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh, who was known for offering water to everyone on the battlefield without any discrimination. "We used to get nearly 9,000 cusecs of water from them in April, May and June each year. Of this, Delhi gets 500 cusecs, Rajasthan 800 cusecs. We are left with less than 7,000 cusecs," Saini claimed. Pointing out that the people of Delhi have shown AAP the door in the recent assembly polls, Saini advised Bhagwant Mann to do some work in Punjab's interest and not "create differences". Saini then added that the people of Punjab and the state's farmers understand what AAP is doing. Responding to a media query, Saini said that extra water was given in May-June every year because of the summer conditions. He then appealed to Mann to rise above party politics and work in the interest of humanity.
