Telangana state Wakf Board reinstates suspended caretaker

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Wakf Board on Wednesday did a volte face and reinstated the mutawalli who was suspended for certain irregularities at the Dargah Hazrat Mirza Sardar Baig Sahab at Nampally.

The board passed a resolution terming the action of its own inquiry officer as “inappropriate” and said the investigation was not properly conducted. It is planning to give the income derived from the shrine when it was under the direct control of the Wakf Board back to the caretaker. The board members felt the punishment was harsh. 

In October 2015, the Wakf Board had removed Mr Hasan Ali alias Zubair as caretaker for alleged irregularities mentioned in a report by inquiry officer K.A. Wahid Khan. Based on the report, the board lodged a complaint with the Habeebnagar police.

In August 2017, Mr Hasan Ali filed an appeal in the court against the Wakf Board order with the recommendation of a senior board member, stating that due procedure was not followed in his removal. He urged the board to reinstate him as mutawalli of the dargah. 

On July 1, the Wakf Board passed a resolution which stated that it had discussed the matter and found that the officer had not conducted the inquiry properly. He had not framed charges properly and the issues related to the mutawalli were irregularities in minor financial transactions.

The board members felt that the removal of the mutawalli from his post was in violation of the provisions of the Waqf Act 1995 and Wakf Rules, 2000. 

Wakf Board chairman Mohammed Saleem said he would check the issue with officials and would stop proceedings if any discrepancies were found.