The government of Jammu Kashmir has ordered demarcation and verification of Waqf properties across the Union Territory and has asked the divisional commissioners to ensure completion of the process within a month.
In an order, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), government has said that in the process of digitization and geo-tagging of Waqf properties, it has come to notice that there are a large number of properties which require demarcation or where encroachments have taken place.
“Accordingly, in order to conduct demarcation, verification and removal of encroachments. Tehsildar concerned shall organise verification and demarcation of each of the Waqf properties while associating a representative of the CEO Waqf Kashmir/Special Officer Auqaf,” the order reads.
“Specific focus shall be on those Waqf properties that could not be geo-tagged with reference to the data uploaded on the Waqf Management System of India (WAMSI) portal.”
The order reads that the Deputy Commissioners shall constitute teams for 100% cross-checking of the demarcation and encroachment reports. “The necessary entries of waqf properties in Revenue records shall also be made.”
It reads that the Deputy Commissioners will send reports along with copies of relevant records to the CEO Waqf Kashmir/Special Officer Auqaf who shall certify that the properties have been verified as per the records and duly reconciled with the revenue records and undertake digitisation/geo-tagging of the properties, details on the WAMSI portal.
The order further states that the Divisional Commissioners shall monitor the progress and ensure that the entire exercise is completed within a period of one month—(KNO)