JAIPUR: Rajasthan Wakf Board chairman Salawat Khan has sought the cooperation of the State's bureaucracy to "liberate" Wakf properties from the hands of encroachers and illegal occupants. "Wakf properties have great potential. They could be put to good use, especially for the betterment of the Muslim community," he said.

Wakf properties, numbering 20,000-25,000 in the State, included agricultural land, dargahs, madrasas, kabristans and musafirkhans, besides shops and urban land. "There is lot of property under Wakf but no system to develop them.," Mr.Khan lamented while talking to media persons here on Friday.

"Rentals are due from many tenants and litigation on Wakf property is rampant," Mr.Khan said. Presently over 950 cases were pending before the Wakf Tribunal and the court of Estate Officer. Most of the encroachments, which included those on kabristans (graveyards) as well, were by the members of the Muslim community, he noted. Attempts would be made for out of the court settlements of the cases pertaining rents, he said.

"Wakf Board can get the encroachments on its property removed using the provision of Section 55 of the Wakf Act 1995. However the concerned Sub Divisional Magistrates and Additional District Magistrates never show much interest in restoring the possession of the properties to Wakf. There should be clear orders from the Government to these officials for restoring the properties within a month after an order in this regard," Mr.Khan said.

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