Owaisi and Harsh Sanghvi Clash in Ahmedabad: Heated Debate Over Waqf Board Bill in JPC

A JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) has been appointed for the Wakf Board Bill, with a meeting held at the Taj Hotel in Ahmedabad, attended by 20 members of the JPC. A presentation was made on the benefits of the bill and its potential impact. The Chairman and members of the Gujarat Wakf Board were present. Additionally, Home Minister of State Harsh Sanghavi and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi were also in attendance. However, a confrontation occurred between Sanghavi and Owaisi when Owaisi raised the issue of a Surat Municipal Corporation building.

Presentation and Discussion on the Bill

During the presentation of the bill, discussions were held. Imran Khedawala, the Congress MLA for Jamalpur-Khadia constituency, called for the bill to be scrapped, stating his opposition. He expressed fear that if the bill is passed, it could harm the Muslim community. However, in response, State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi stated that the BJP government in Gujarat is performing well.

Owaisi Raises Issue of Surat Municipal Corporation Building in Committee: Khedawala

Jamalpur-Khadia MLA and Wakf Board member Imran Khedawala shared in an interview with Divya Bhaskar that Hyderabad MP Owaisi presented in the committee that a property registered with the Wakf Board had been taken over by the Surat Municipal Corporation. A tribunal had given a judgment which was overturned. Information was sought about properties registered with the Wakf Board. Khedawala added that he opposed the bill and made representations before the committee, presenting 14 points, a copy of which was given to the JPC.

More than 45,000 Wakf Board Properties in Gujarat

The Gujarat Wakf Board oversees more than 45,000 properties, of which over 39,000 are immovable assets. This includes not only graveyards, mosques, and madrasas but also residential houses, agricultural land, shops, plots, and ponds. If valued at market rates, the worth of these properties could reach into the billions.

150-Year-Old Surat Municipal Office

The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) office, located on Gorakh Das Chokhawala Road, is housed in a building known as Humayun Sarai, built in 1644 by Isaakbeg Azadi, a loyal servant of Shah Jahan’s daughter. The property spans 5,663 square meters and has served as a municipal office for 150 years.

Challenging the Decision Based on Invalid Documents

In 2015, the Wakf Board claimed ownership of this property, and in 2021, a judgment was issued declaring it as Wakf property. SMC appealed this decision in 2021, arguing that the corporation had been in possession for years without any objections. SMC claimed that the decision was made without proper consideration, based on unverified documents.

Wakf Act Implemented in 1995

The Wakf Act was implemented in 1995, but SMC argues that the property was not included in the Wakf list until much later, after 21 years. There had been no activities related to a traveler’s lodge since 1867, yet the Wakf Board’s claim was still accepted.

Discovery of Two Persian Inscriptions

During the case, it was argued that in 1921, two Persian inscriptions were found by archaeologist R.D. Banerjee from Poona at the Mughal Sarai, now housed in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in Mumbai. According to these inscriptions, the property was declared Wakf. Abdullah Jarullah, who filed the case, had also filed an appeal in the High Court, which was later withdrawn.

Wakf Tribunal Hears Both Sides

The Wakf Tribunal heard both sides and issued a detailed ruling. The tribunal noted that Abdullah Jarullah had presented photocopies, not original documents, and was not a trustee of the property. The property was included in revenue records without any objections, and the electric bills were in the name of the municipality.

Building Usage and Claims of Humayun Sarai

The disputed property, known as Mughal Sarai, was claimed by Abdullah Jarullah to be Humayun Sarai. At the time of construction, Aurangzeb was the ruler of Gujarat, and the inscriptions mentioned that rent collected should go to travelers. However, the Wakf Board has been accused of violating provisions of the Wakf Act in declaring the property as Wakf.

Sarai Constructed from Revenue of Surat Port

In 1868, the property was converted into a municipality building, built using revenue from the Surat port, not royal funds. According to Islamic law, only self-earned property can be made Wakf. The decision by the Wakf Board was based on invalid documents and was one-sided, with no military use recorded for the property during British rule.