Thanks To Puja Committee And An NGO, Muslim Doctors Did Not Have To Vacate Their Flat
Kolkata, Aug 03: Four Muslim doctors, staying at a rented house in Kolkata’s Kudghat area who made it to the news for facing racial discrimination, have been assured by the locals that they would not have to shift elsewhere. The positive change took place, when the Durga Puja committee and a local NGO, came to their rescue.
The Muslim doctors, are currently doing their staff ship in various government hospitals across the city were in for a shock when one of the neighbours heckled and misbehaved with them, as a friend of them came visiting.
“We had already been turned down by many landlords, just because of our Muslim identity. So, we were very much relieved when our current landlord agreed to rent out his flat to us. We were glad that we finally managed to get accommodation. However, that was just the beginning of our ordeal, for one of the neighbours had a strong reservation to the house being rent out to us,” narrated Dr Mohammad Aftab Alam, among the four Muslim doctors who had to vacate the flat to eNewsroom. Dr Aftab is doing his staff ship with Beliaghata Infectious Diseases Hospital.
However, the neighbour never got a chance to make his reservations heard until their friend came to visit them at their residence. “This friend was supposed to stay overnight with us. But he was accosted by this neighbour and asked for his identity card. When we raised an alarm, saying that we were ready to show all the necessary documents but to our landlord and not him, then he loudly declared that how he had warned everyone to not rent out their flats to ‘bachelors and Muslims’,” recounted Dr Aftab.
Following which, he posted his ordeal on social media. “Someone alerted an NGO called Sangati Abijaan came to our rescue. The members of this NGO along with a number of local residents of this area came forward to help us,” said he.
Talking to eNewsroom, Dwaipayan Banerjee, a research scholar and Founder Member of the NGO said, “This is not the first time that we have come across such a situation. In Kolkata too, many deny renting out houses to Muslims. But, this time around, when we talked to the locals regarding this issue, they were more than willing to support these young boys.”
What was more encouraging was the fact the even the local Durga Puja Committee members lent their support to the boys. “It would have been a matter of shame if the boys had to vacate their flat,” said Bhaskar Majumdar, a school teacher and resident of Kudghat area. He further added, “The neighbour, who had raised an objection, had never anticipated such a reaction and has now maintained that he had no objection to the four staying in the flat. The locals have pledged their support to the boys and have maintained that no tenant would be targeted simply because of the religion.”
On being asked why such an incident took place, in the heart of the city, he explained, “When – Hindu-Muslim is all that we can hear throughout the day, what else one can expect to transpire. The politicians of today are banking on the politics of hate. So, definitely, such cases will be on the rise. He further added, “When we went over to clear the differences, I categorically told him, I would have been overjoyed, if I had four doctors as my neighbours. We did our best to clear the prejudice that existed, following which this particular neighbour has maintained that he has no objection to the boys staying put.”
Meanwhile the boys too overjoyed with not having to vacate the flat. “We will never have enough word to thank Dwaipayan da’s timely intervention, the local residents of Kudghat including the Puja committee, for having stood by us and making sure that we didn’t have to vacate our residence has further strengthened our hope in our democracy and spirit of Kolkata. I am sure if such interventions are made in time to iron out the differences or prejudice that exists in the society, the rise graph of hate in India will be curbed for sure.”
Courtesy: enewsroom.in
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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.
