The Jammu Kashmir Waqf Board has nominated administrators (Executive Officers) for the Board, for different districts of Kashmir.
Chaired by Darakshan Andrabi, the JKWB has appointed temporary executive officers for the districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Kupwara, and Baramulla.
According to the official document accessed by The Kashmiriyat, order number; 04/PS/JKWB of 2024, dated 27/02/2024, the decision of the Waqf Board concludes;
“In the interest of the administration and smooth functioning of Waqf Units, the JK Waqf Board, in its 9th Board meeting, approved the temporary appointment of ‘Executive Officers’ under Section 38 of the Central Waqf Act 1995. Accordingly, the following individuals are appointed on a temporary basis, initially for a period of six months, for the Districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Kupwara and Baramulla.”
The document mentioned the appointed officers; Mohd. Rafiq Wani (Anantnag), Abid Hussain Khan (Kulgam), Javied Ahmad Qadri (Shopian), Mohd. Gulzar Lone (Kupwara) and Zahid Ab. Gani Lone (Baramulla), respectively.
Earlier in January, the Waqf Board took over administrative control of the Ziyarat Shareef Sakhi Zain-ud-Din Wali(ra) Srigufwara and its allied properties with immediate effect.
“A committee consisting of following members is hereby constituted to recommend measures for streamlining of financial operations and administrative affairs of the Shrine”, read the order accessed by The Kashmiriyat.
The Waqf Board document of the order no. 94 of 2024, dated 15/01/24, mentioned the finalized members of the committee; Tariq Mohd. Kullu (executive engineer) as the head with Manzoor Ahmed Shah (accounts assistant) and Fayaz Ahmed Rather (I/C revenue and estates, Anantnag) as members.
This committee was also appointed to identify the repairs/renovations and infrastructure development works required at the Shrine. They were required to submit a report of the same within a period of 2 weeks for the Chairperson to examine further.
Pertinently in 2022, the Waqf Board imposed a ban on the collection of money across the Khanqahs in Jammu Kashmir under order no. JKWB/Adm/ CE/ 1723-25, dated 16/08/2022.
The process of centralizing the locally managed Waqf Board began in 2021, with 133 Mosques and shrines coming under the Central Waqf Board, while the Hindu and Sikh places of worship are to be overseen by local shrine boards, as per the JK Reorganizational Act.
As per official figures, the Waqf board owns 1453 shops, 2160 Kanals of orchard land, 99 Kanals of paddy land, 6840 Kanals of forest land, 32 Kanals of marshy land, and 63 Kanals of Eid-Gah Land.