Author: A. B. Masoud
Publication: Islamic Voice
Date: June 1999
URL: http://www.islamicvoice.com/june.99/community.htm
India has around 250 thousand Waqf properties,
the largest in the world, but most of them are under illegal occupation of
none other than the central and state governments. The main usurper of the
waqf properties is the Central Government that has built several key department
buildings by "illegally occupying" the Waqf land. Others include
Delhi's high-profile Golf Club, Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Central Government
Offices (CGO) Complex around Lodhi Road area that also houses the headquarters
of the CBI, the Oberoi Inter-continental and several important institutions.
The situation in many other states is similar.
These startling facts came under discussion
here at a 3-day international seminar on 'Awqaf experiences in South Asia'
jointly organised by the Institute of Objective Studies, Islamic Research
and Training Institute of IDB, Jeddah, Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation, Kuwait
here on May 8-10.
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The waqf properties can generate Rs. 16,000
crore of income for the socio-economic upliftement of the community. Former
Delhi Waqf Board offered to finance the entire Delhi's budget, if only the
waqf properties locked under encroachment were released.
