869 waqf properties encroached in Karnataka, Lok Sabha told

New Delhi: Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said a total of 869 waqf properties in Karnataka are facing encroachment.

“As per the details available on WAMSI (Waqf Assets Management System of India), at least 58,929 waqf properties are facing encroachment, out of which Karnataka has 869 such waqf properties,” the minister said, in his reply to Haveri Lok Sabha member and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.

The minister said as per Sections 54 and 55 of the Waqf Act, the Chief Executive Officer of State Waqf Board has the power to take legal action against unauthorised occupation and encroachment on waqf properties.

Further, Section 51(1-A) of the Waqf Act provides any sale, gift, exchange, Mortgage or transfer of the waqf property shall be void ab initio. The Central government has framed the Waqf Properties Lease Rules, 2014 under Section 56 of the Act empowering the State Waqf Boards (SWBs) to give waqf properties on lease.

The Ministry and Central Waqf Council (CWC) receive complaints regarding various issues relating to waqf properties from time to time and the same are forwarded to concerned SWB and state governments for action.