Hackers deposit Re 1 in TRAI chief R S Sharma’s bank account
BENGALURU: Ethical hackers on Sunday claimed to have the bank account details of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) chairman R S Sharma and posted the same on Twitter. Users also posted screenshots of sending Re 1 to Sharma via the Aadhaar-Enabled Payment Service using apps like BHIM and Paytm, and through IMPS. They also posted the transaction IDs.
This is a fallout of the chairman's move to post his Aadhaar number, 7621 7768 2740, on Saturday and challenging Aadhaar critics to do him harm if they could. TOI could not independently confirm any of Sharma's data.
On Sunday, ethical hackers - including Elliot Alderson, Pushpendra Singh, Kanishk Sajnani, Anivar Arvind, and Karan Saini - pointed out that nearly 14 items had been leaked so far. This includes Sharma's mobile numbers, residential address, date of birth, PAN number, voter ID number, telecom operator, phone model, and Air India frequent flyer ID.
They also claimed to have his bank account number and IFSC code for five other accounts - in PNB, Bank of India, SBI (joint account), Kotak Mahindra and ICICI Bank. Anivar Aravind and a few others sent Re 1 to his Bank of India account via AEPS. Twitter users cautioned the chairman that the ability to send money to him without his consent could expose him to blackmail, money laundering and other dangers.
Hackers also posted his demat account details, his payment history for a three-year subscription to a right-wing website with his SBI debit card, usage of Aadhaar card for sale of organic goods by Leela Dhar Organics of Hari Sewak Sharma on July 2, 2018.
Ethical hackers are those who hack into computer networks to test or evaluate their security, rather than with malicious or criminal intent. Aadhaar issuing body UIDAI on Sunday reiterated that Aadhaar was safe and secure.
UIDAI said that hackers had obtained this information on R S Sharma by Googling him as he was a long-standing public servant. This was shortly after Pushpendra Singh, who is also a blockchain developer, posted screenshots of obtaining Sharma’s Punjab National Bank account number, IFSC code, MICR code and other details from the UIDAI database. TOI could not independently confirm any of Sharma’s data.
Ethical hackers also claimed to have his bank account number and IFSC code for five other bank accounts. Anivar Aravind and a few others sent Re 1 to his Bank of India account via AEPS. Hackers also posted his Yahoo email address, demat account details, his payment history for a three-year subscription to a right-wing website with his SBI debit card, usage of Aadhaar card for sale of organic goods by Leela Dhar Organics of Hari Sewak Sharma on July 2, 2018.
French security expert Elliot Alderson advised Sharma to change his Gmail password as it had been hacked. To which Sharma tweeted: “No. Why should I change? It is working fine! Even if you hack, it is not because of Aadhaar!”
More Aadhaar backers post ID number online
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman R S Sharma’s Twitter challenge has now escalated into a Twitter war between those who are for Aadhaar and those against it. On Sunday, following Sharma’s footsteps, several Aadhaar supporters posted their Aadhaar numbers online and dared hackers to harm them.
The TRAI chairman retweeted the tweets from his followers such as Amarendra Joshi (also followed by Narendra Modi’s official handle) who put out their Aadhaar numbers. Other users like VG, Amit Kumar and a dozen others posted their Aadhaar details and mobile numbers. Sharma retweeted one Bharath Vasi’s tweet: “A tight slap to all the hyper active privacy paranoids!! The self-proclaimed hackers, who are showing his mobile, PAN numbers & address data, can’t they hack such info without knowing his Aadhaar? Surly they can obtain! Then why blame #Aadhaar?”
Several anti-Aadhaar tweets pointed out that those exposing the data are ethical hackers and cannot use it to harm Sharma.
courtesy : timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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Once a Waqf, always a Waqf
Waqf, a pious endowment in Islamic law is rooted in the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A companion Abubakr Siddiq (RA) purchased and assigned the land for construction of mosque of Prophet in Madina. The Quranic revelation “You will not attain unto piety until you spend of that which you love”.
The messenger of Allah said, “when a human being dies his deeds end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge or a righteous child who prays for him”. It has encouraged Muslims to dedicate wealth for good cause like Waqf.
Concept of Waqf
The concept of waqf in Muslim law is a permanent dedication of properties for religious, charitable and pious purposes. The word waqf comes from the Arabic word which means to tie up, stoppage or detain. The movable and immovable assets are dedicated unconditionally to divine and must be irrevocable. The donor is called a Waqif the Waqif appoints a Muthavalli or trustee to manage the property. The usufruct of property is utilised for the specific purpose for which it is dedicated or for the benefit of the destitutes. Once an asset is dedicated to the divine it cannot be sold transferred hypothecated or given as a gift.
Auqaf in India
The idea of waqf dates back to the Delhi sultanate when Sultan Muizuddin Sam Ghour dedicated two villages in favour of Jamia Masjid Multan. In Mughal rule there was no centralised management of waqfs. They are managed by individually appointed trustees under the supervision of local Imams. He was accountable to regional khazi. The law of waqf was codified under British rule. “Musalman Waqf Validating Act 1913”, “Musalman Waqf Act 1923” were passed. The “Shariat Application Act 1937” notified that waqf properties comes under Muslim personal law. After independence Waqf Act 1954 was enacted for the entire country except the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Further a comprehensive Act was brought in force in the year 1995. Adjudication of waqf litigations by the waqf Tribunals was introduced. There after it was further amended during 2013 providing representation to women in the waqf board, multi member waqf Tribunals and the alienation of waqf properties is considered as non bailable and cognizable offence with up to 2 years rigorous imprisonment.
Management of Auqaf in Karnataka
During Vijayanagar, Bahamani, Adil Shahi, Tippu and Wodeyar's rule, numerous charities and endowments were made to Hindus and Muslims. The religious endowments of Hindus and Muslims were managed as per the provisions of The Mysuru Muzrai Manual 1934. During 1974 the state government decided to transfer these waqf properties to the waqf Board for their management under Waqf Act 1954.
Abolition of Zamindari System
Consequent to the abolition of Zamindari system Karnataka Inam Abolition Act 1955, Karnataka certain Inams Abolition Act 1977 were passed. Consequent to the 73rd amendment to the constitution Karnataka Land Reforms Act 1974 was enacted. Due to these enactments more than 79,000 acres of notified waqf properties were granted to the Inamdars and tenants out of 1.7 lakh acres in the state.
Waqf is always a Waqf
Honourable supreme court of India in Syed Ali and Others V/S Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board ordered on 18/01/1998 that “Waqf is always a Waqf” and the grant of Patta in favour of Mokhasadar under the Inam Act does not in any matter, nullify the earlier dedication made of the property constituting the same as waqf.
The Karnataka State Board of Auqaf sought clarification from the state government regarding applicability of Karnataka Religious and Charitable Inam Act, Karnataka Certain Inams Abolition Act 1977 and Karnataka Land Reforms Act 1974 to the waqf properties in view of the aforesaid Supreme Court judgement. The then Secretary to government Minority Welfare Department in his letter dated 27/07/2017 sought the opinion of the Law Justice and Human Rights Department. The said department clarified that the properties which the State Government claims to have vested in the government by virtue of Inam Abolition Laws or Land Reforms Act have no juridical significance. In view of the interpretation of waqf made by Honourable Supreme Court of India in its judgement reported in AIR1998 SC 972, Law department is of the opinion that once a property held to be Waqf property, in such an event there is no scope for application of either Inam abolition Laws or land reforms Act.
The State Government in its letter no MWD118WES2017 dated 19/12/2017 directed the Karnataka State Board of Auqaf to recover the Waqf lands acquired by individuals as well as the groups and to take legal action as per the provisions of the waqf Act 1995 (Amendment) Act 2013. The Board requested the Regional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners in the State to restore the waqf properties affected under The Inams and Land Reforms Laws. Accordingly, the Tahsildars initiated to issue notices to such grantees and noted as “Waqf Property” in the record of rights of such properties. Many of such grantees have assailed the mutations effected by the Tahsildars. The Honourable High Court of Karnataka has issued directions to the Tahsildars to issue notices, hear them and then take the decision.
Now the state government has decided not to issue any notices which is obviously against the decision of Honourable Supreme Court of India and the clarification issued by the Law Department. Lest there is serious social, political and legal implications inherent in the implementation of orders of Honourable Supreme Court. Since 1995 to date the Inamdars and tenants have sold the properties, some of the lands are converted to non-agricultural purposes, residential lay outs have come up and commercial buildings are in use. The state government has to ponder over the issue with legal luminaries, Waqf Board authorities, senior bureaucrats and social scientists and come out with an acceptable solution in the interest of lasting peace in the society.
This article is written by Mujibullah Zaffari, Former Chief Executive Officer, Karnataka State Waqf Board.
