If the Karnataka State Minority Commission has its way, those found misusing, encroaching or grabbing wakf land, might end up forfeiting their right to contest a election or get nominated to wakf institutions or the Wakf Board.
That’s not all.
The nine-member Commission headed by Anwar Manippady, which detected a huge scam running into Rs two lakh crore, after its pilot study of wakf properties in Bidar, has made several strong recommendations including criminal proceedings against the offenders. The Commission mooted imprisonment of 5-10 years and penalty amounting to double the value of the property encroached, sold or illegally purchased.
In its report submitted to Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda last week, the Commission has urged the government to keep the present state Wakf Board under suspension for 12 months to enable a fair probe by the Lokayukta and immediately constitute a taskforce to retrieve all encroached properties besides appointing a high-power committee to run the Board in a transparent manner.
The Commission has also reminded both the Union and state governments of their responsibility and `powers to regulate secular activities of wakf’ (implementation of provisions under section 96 and 97 chapter IX of Wakf Act 1995).
“Both governments have failed to enable minorities join the mainstream and prevent them from being mere vote-banks,” observed the commission, adding that it was time to bring amendments.
Recommendations
* Constitute a task force to retrieve all encroached properties
* Lokayukta to probe all fraudulent acts related to Wakf Board
* Land audit of all Wakf properties in Karnataka
* Take up audit of accounts of the Wakf Board and all Wakf institutions in the State as per a calendar of events drawn up for the purpose.
* Re-launch the second survey of Wakf properties started in 2001, but discontinued later.
* Create a special purpose vehicle to control and supervise the survey, which is to be completed within six months.
* All pending cases before the Board should be disposed within a given time frame.