Lack Of CEO Impedes Waqf Board’s Functioning

From inspection and protection of its properties to handling court cases and routine administrative matters, the absence of a CEO has been adversely affecting the Board's functioning, activists and officials said.

According to activists, Moin Manzil, a Waqf gazette-notified bungalow in Abids, was recently demolished on the grounds that it was in a dilapidated condition. Even though the matter was pending in court, the bungalow was demolished by land grabbers, heritage activist Mohammed Habeebuddin alleged. He added that the Waqf Board has not yet taken any action against the land grabbers for the unauthorised demolition.

Similarly, miscreants attempted to demolish an old graveyard under the Waqf Board’s jurisdiction in Balapur. However, the attempt was stopped following action by the officials concerned. While encroachments continued at Kohe Imam Zamin, Waqf task force officials reclaimed land in Guttala Begumpet and FIRs were filed, Habeebuddin said. He requested the State government to initiate steps to protect Waqf properties by appointing a special officer.

Waqf Board member Abul Fateh Syed Bandagi Badshah Qadri said the Board’s functioning has been severely affected due to the absence of the CEO. “From handling court cases and issuing memos to directing inspections and protecting Waqf properties, the CEO is the competent authority. Due to the CEO's removal, disputes have arisen over valuable properties that are being demolished and encroached upon. In some cases, construction is being carried out on disputed lands,” he said.

Activist Lubna Sarwath appealed to the state government to revoke the CEO's repatriation order. She said when the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 case was still pending in the Supreme Court, the CEO was repatriated following the High court order. Appointing a Joint Secretary or an equivalent cadre official as CEO is akin to implementing the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, which is under judicial scrutiny, she added.