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The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Efforts underway to arrange for Muharram elephant as Forest Department raises concerns
Efforts are underway to clear the decks for the inclusion of an elephant, atop which an alam is traditionally mounted, in the centuries-old Muharram procession in Hyderabad. According to sources, the Telangana State Waqf Board (TGSWB), along with officials from other departments, have been exploring possibilities for arranging the elephant, as the procession is likely to take place on July 6 or July 7, depending on the sighting of the moon. Correspondence regarding the arrangement usually takes place between the H.E.H. The Nizam Awqaf Committee, the Nizam's Religious Trust, and the government. However, it is the Telangana State Waqf Board that bears the costs of transporting and handling the elephant, along with other related expenses. These expenses amount to approximately ₹5 lakh, with an advance paid prior to the animal's arrival in the city. 'Of the ₹5 lakh, we have already paid ₹1 lakh as an advance to the elephant's owner. While the owner is based in Delhi, the elephant would have to be brought from Jaipur. The Forest Department has pointed out that the distance to Hyderabad is too great. We are now considering arranging for an elephant from a location closer to Hyderabad, such as Karnataka. Since an elephant is required for Bonalu as well Minister Ponnam Prabhakar is already cognisant of the matter. The issue will be resolved soon,' said TGSWB Chairman Syed Azmatullah Husseni. Sources noted that except during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdown restrictions were in place, the government, over the years, had consistently arranged for an elephant for both Muharram and Bonalu. They expressed confidence that a solution would be found this year as well. The sources also said that both of the Nizam's panels are on board with the current arrangements. Meanwhile, Mir Abbas Ali Moosvi of the Anjuman-e-Tahafuz-e-Huqooq-e-Mutawalliyan Mujawareen wa Khadimeen-e-Mauroosi Ashoorkhanajaat, an association of managers of ashoorkhanas, urged the government to provide cash grants to these places of worship ahead of Muharram. Mr Moosvi pointed out that while the Badshahi Ashoorkhana, a structure that predates the Charminar, and for which he serves as mutawalli, received ₹30,000 in aid, other ashoorkhanas in the city and across the districts — around 700 in total — are in dire need of financial support. He submitted a representation to Minister Ponnam Prabhakar seeking assistance for this purpose.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
As the waqf portal is set to go live, TG Waqf Board ‘waiting for clarity'
Hyderabad With the Union government all set to launch the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED), a portal that seeks to collate documents connected to waqf properties, purportedly for managing them better, the Telangana State Waqf Board (TGSWB) is still awaiting clarity. 'We are aware that the portal is going to be launched tomorrow. But we are still waiting for clear guidelines from the Ministry of Minority Affairs about what all documents are required, and which ones will be accepted. As far as we know, the portal will accept document uploads for the next six months,' TGSWB Chairman Syed Azmatullah Hussaini told The Hindu. A key concern, Mr. Hussaini said, that still remains, is the documentation of old places of worship such as those belonging to the Qutb Shahi period. 'We are yet to see what how to deal with documents connected to such masjids. With the portal going live from tomorrow, and in the absence of documents of a large number of Qutb Shahi masjids, we have to check as to how we should proceed,' he said. Meanwhile, others from the TGSWB pointed out that the portal is likely to have a three tier system. First, the mutawalli (manager of a waqf institution) will have to upload documents, for instance, a gazette notification. This is then verified by an officer at the TGSWB. The final approving authority would be the Chief Executive Officer. 'The previous online management system – the Waqf Asset Management System – will not be in use. Moreover data from this will not be migrated to the new portal. Ideally, it would have been better had the Central government waited for the Supreme Court judgment before going ahead with the portal,' an official said. Meanwhile, the TGSWB is continuing its efforts to strengthen documentation of properties in its custody. The board's CEO, Mohammed Asadullah, wrote letters to government agencies, such as the Chief Commissioner Land Administration, and the Telangana State Archives and Research Institute, and sent staff to obtain copies of documents of properties considered waqf.
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Limitation clause sparks concern even as second Waqf survey details are yet to be notified in Telangana
Even as protests against the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 continue, and more are scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, including the Telangana March seeking a withdrawal of the legislation on April 26, the Telangana government is yet to publish the details of the second Waqf survey. According to those familiar with the matter, the second Waqf survey, which was completed earlier this year, enumerated approximately 13,400 properties. However, unlike those listed in the first survey, these comprise much smaller land parcels. 'These smaller properties are like chillas, which are hardly of any size. However, the survey details are yet be finally published. At this point, there is no question of encroachment in the second Waqf survey because these properties are small. The issue of encroachment arises in relation to the first survey, after which it was found that over 75% of Waqf lands were encroached upon,' a senior official of the Telangana State Waqf Board (TGSWB) said. According to official data, the first Waqf survey listed 33,939 institutions spread over a total of 77,538 acres. Of this, 57,423 acres were found to be encroached upon. However, sources within the Board speculate that the extent of encroachments may have increased since then to about 80% being encroached. Now, with the new waqf legislation applying the Limitation Act, a move the Union government maintains will reduce prolonged litigation, members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) have expressed concerns that this would enable encroachers to remain in possession of waqf land. Speaking at a public meeting organised in New Delhi on Tuesday (April 22) to oppose the new legislation, Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi, who is also a member of the AIMPLB, quoted a document on waqf properties which he said was released by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and stated that a majority of properties were encroached upon. 'We want to ask the Prime Minister that when you have admitted that 70% of waqf properties have been encroached upon, you making encroachers owners by applying the Limitation Act. I am certain that in several States, they have already been made owners through land mutation,' he said. A TGSWB official noted that with the Limitation Act now being applied, encroachers could seek ownership through adverse possession. If this happens, cases could be filed in civil courts rather than the Waqf Tribunal. However, this also raises other challenges, he said, even as he claimed that the case would not be as simple. These include establishing limitation, paying court fees, and filing appeals in case the Waqf institution or Board receives an adverse order.
