Telangana Wakf Board in doubt as chief’s term ends

Hyderabad: The Wakf Board is in a state of confusion after the term of chairman Mohammed Saleem as an MLC ended on March 28.

Board officials are not certain whether to circulate files to Mr Saleem or not, as they are yet to receive any directions either from the directorate of Minorities welfare or secretary, minorities welfare.

Senior officials are not in a position to issue any order due to the model code of conduct and legal tangles.

According to the Wakf Act, the term of the board members who are elected under Section 14 (b) (ii) is conditional and their membership is coterminous. In the amended Act, an explanation is incorporated to remove the doubt. It explains that in case, a member ceases to be a member of Parliament or Assembly, he shall be deemed to have vacated the office of the member of the board.

Even though the Act clearly states the course of action, the officials say they are not clear about what rules to follow next.

Wakf Board officials said that the confusion should be cleared by the state. “Unless there are directions from the directorate of minorities welfare or secretary, minority welfare department, we have to open the doors for the chairman and obey the orders given by him,” an official said.

Officers are unaware about their role in such circumstances as there is no clarification in the Act or Rules about action to be taken by the state government in case a member of Parliament or Assembly ceases his membership. They are reluctant to proceed further, citing the ongoing model code of conduct.

It is learnt that the higher officials have asked their subordinates to wait and watch. They are hoping that someone may approach the High Court seeking directions in this regard.