‘Make Wakf assets transparent’

Akbar alleged that there were several cases of land grabbing by the board. This made him file a petition seeking the details of Wakf properties in Tamil Nadu. A response to his queries was declined. The Wakf Act 1954 came into force in Tamil Nadu in 1995. The board members deal with properties donated by people to help the poor. Interested persons donate to educate the underprivileged or for religious and charitable purposes, Akbar said. 

“I filed an RTI seeking the details of Wakf properties in the State but was shocked to see the response, which stated that the information sought for are disproportionately divert the human resources of the public authority,” he added. Subsequently, Akbar sought the intervention of the State Information Commission, which issued an order on October 26 giving the board 90 days to set things right. 

“Wakf is said to be the third largest revenue earning body in India. However, in Chennai there are allegations of mismanagement and corruption, says Akbar.