Hyderabad: RTI query on Wakf in vain
Records were seized under KCR instructions.
Hyderabad: The Wakf Board is not in a position to provide information under the RTI Act pertaining to Waqf property documents as the District Collector was yet to hand over custody of the Record and Survey Section, which was seized on November 7, 2017 at the instructions of Chief Minister Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Later its custody was given to the Hyderabad Collector to prepare a detailed list of the files kept in the section.
The District Collector had deputed a Naib Tahsildar from the ULC wing to the Wakf Board Office, who is working under police protection, to supervise the Record Section resulting in Wakf Board officials facing difficulties in accessing the records kept in the Section. Consequently, the Wakf Board denies information sought under the RTI Act. But Wakf Board officials were allowed to access the records only if they needed to submit them in court cases. The Record Section contains thousands of records related to Wakf properties.
The Central Wakf Council also had raised objections when the record section was taken into custody by the state government.
Three months ago the deputed Tahsiladar was transferred, but another Naib Tahsildar joined the Board last week.