HC seeks Centre's reply on plea against acquisition of Waqf properties

The Delhi High Court today sought response of the Centre on a PIL challenging the acquisition of over 300 Waqf properties in the national capital by the Centre.

A bench of Acting Chief Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice to the Lieutenant Governor, the AAP government and the Delhi Waqf Board on a plea which sought to restore the possession of Waqf properties which were allegedly taken over by the government without paying any compensation.

The bench directed authorities concerned to file status report before the next date of hearing, December 11.

The petitioner, advocate Shahid Ali, said the intentions of officials concerned of the Centre are malafide, contrary to the principles of natural justice and violative of the fundamental rights of citizens.
 

The plea said that when any land is acquired by the government, an applicable compensation is paid to the owner.

In this case, the Waqf land "is vested with God and no compensation can be made to the God" and hence, no acquirement can be made, it claimed.

"Allotment of Waqf land by the government to any person or institution or even acquirement of thereof is void under section 51 of Waqf Act 1995 which provided that any lease or any immovable property which is Waqf property, shall be void unless such lease is effective with the prior sanction of board," the plea said.

"Issue a writ of mandamus or any other or further writ order or direction thereby cancelling/ quashing of awards, by virtue of which 48 Waqf properties in district north, 165 Waqf properties in District South, 32 Waqf properties in District West, 24 Waqf properties in District New Delhi, 11 Waqf properties in District East, 40 Waqf properties in District South-East, 5 Waqf properties in District North-West, 8 Waqf properties in District Shahdra and 28 Waqf properties in District South-West were acquired by the government/UOI...

"...And further for restoring the possession of such Waqf properties in favour of Delhi Waqf Board, of which the possession has been acquired by the government," the plea said.

Earlier, the high court had on August 8, asked the AAP government and other agencies to enforce the pending eviction orders against encroachers of 990 Waqf properties in the national capital.