Petition filed in Telangana HC challenging release of funds to Tablighi Jamaat
Hyderabad: A writ petition has been filed before the Telangana High Court seeking a direction to the Telangana government suspend a GO issued by the Telangana Minority Welfare Department sanctioning nearly Rs 2.5 crore to Tablighi Jamaat for holding an Islamic religious congregation at Zemath Nagar, Parigi Mandal, Vikarabad district from January 6 to 8.
The petitioner, MD. Afsar Pasha, a resident of Bheemnagar, Gadwal district, asked as to how could the Chief Secretary direct the Chief Executive Officer, State Wakf Board, to release the amount to the District Collector, Vikarabad district, for execution of civil works for the purpose of making infrastructure and other arrangements for the said religious congregation.
The GO 123 dated December 13, 2023 was issued by the Secretary, Minority Welfare Department, Hyderabad, sanctioning an amount of Rs. 2,45,93,847 to Tablighi Jamaat.
The petitioner contended that Tablighi Jamaat had organised a similar Islamic congregation in January, 2020, Ijtema (Islamic Congregation) in Nirmal, where communal violence broke out, leading to serious law and order issues in Bhainsa, Nirmal District.
According to the petitioner, the Supreme Court of Russia in 2009 termed “Tablighi Jamaat” as an extremist organisation and banned it as it was a threat to national and confessional stability of the Russian Federation and its territorial integrity. The governments of Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan have also banned this organization. In 2020, the Enforcement Directorate registered an enforcement case against Maulana Saad and others in the Money Laundering Act case at Delhi.
The secretary, minority welfare department, Chief Secretary, Vikarabad Collector, State Wakf Board CEO, and Tablighi Jamaat leaders Maulana Saad, Banglawali Masjid, New Delhi, are the respondents in the writ petition. The writ will come up for hearing before the single judge on Tuesday.
