NEW DELHI: In nearly 18 states and Union Territories in the country, the post of chief executive officer of the Waqf Board has no full time occupant. The post is held by officers as “additional charge” in these states.

Of the 18 states and UTs, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur and Delhi have officers holding additional charge of CEO’s post to execute the work even as the Waqf Board is yet to be constituted in these states. In Chandhigarh and Puducherry , neither has the board been constituted nor a CEO appointed. In Karnataka , though the board is not constituted, they have a full time CEO.

The information, part of a presentation on the compliance of states with the Waqf Act, was shared by the ministry of minority affairs at a review meeting last week. The review on implementation of central schemes was attended by principal secretaries leading the minorities department in their states.

The Waqf Board has an important role given the fact that it is supposed to maintain records and monitor Waqf properties. The latest numbers on the Waqf management system of India portal show that over 5.72 lakh waqf properties are registered on the centralised platform. The government has been urging all Waqf Boards to update their records taking into account each and every property which will have to be registered under the centralised system.

When asked why there were so many states without a full time CEO, minister for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told TOI that, “Work was on to streamline the Waqf management system and among various other issues even the matter about CEOs is being pursued with the states.”

According to sources, it is usually seen that in most cases the appointment of CEO gets delayed as the process requires the board to send two suggestions for CEO which then requires the approval of the state government. In case of a disagreement, the process of appointment gets delayed.

