Maharashtra Minority Commission Criticises Delay In Waqf Land Review

The Maharashtra State Minority Commission has criticised the state's Minority Development Department for a three-year delay in reviewing Waqf land records.

A four-member committee was formed in October 2023 to frame a policy for distributing compensation for the acquisition of Waqf properties. The committee was tasked with recommending measures to remove private names from records of Muslim religious endowments and enter the names of Waqf institutions.

MSMC chairperson Pyare Khan blamed the Minority Development Department for the delay, stating that they are not interested in doing any work. Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh also raised concerns over the delay, citing 23,566 registered Waqf properties in Maharashtra that have allegedly been encroached upon or have private individuals staking ownership claims.

Shaikh urged the government to initiate immediate action and fix accountability in the matter. The delay has raised questions about whether the ruling government is according the Muslim community's concerns due priority.

The commission's criticism comes after a meeting was held in September 2023 to address issues concerning Waqf properties, but no progress has been made since then. The issue remains unresolved, with the commission seeking visible action and implementation rather than mere assurances.