The Urban Development Ministry has issued notices to the Delhi Waqf Board for the withdrawal of 123 properties, including the Jama Masjid in Delhi, which was given to the Waqf Board during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government. It is not the Jama Masjid near the Red Fort, it is located in Central Delhi.
The Union Urban Development Ministry has decided to take over 123 properties of the Delhi Waqf Board based on the report of a two-member committee on non-notified Waqf properties. This includes mosques, dargahs and graveyards. The ministry had written a letter to Delhi Waqf Board chairman and AAP MLA Amanuullah Khan informing him about the decision.
Instructions to Waqf Board to present papers
The properties that have been issued notices to be taken back were with the government at some point or the other, and were handed over to the Waqf Board during the Manmohan Singh government. The Land and Development Office under the Union Urban Ministry has sent a notice to the Waqf Board, asking it to submit necessary documents. In which the board can tell why these properties should be given to it.
Waqf Board did not get relief from High Court
The Waqf Board had also filed a petition in the Delhi High Court. The petition said that no one else should do the work of demolition, demolition and repair of all these properties, but in May last year, the High Court had dismissed the petition.
After not getting relief from the High Court, the Ministry of Urban Development of the Central Government has issued a notice to the Waqf Board and said that if you feel that these properties should be given to you, then submit the necessary documents.
