Waqf board holds sixth meeting, discuss free burial services

Hyderabad: Differences emerged over the proposal of offering free burial services at graveyards in the sixth meeting of State Wakf Board, which was held here on Monday. Heated arguments ensued among the Wakf Board members over the issue even as Wakf Board Chairman, Mohammed Saleem insisted that such services should be implemented.

Later on, the Wakf Board Chairman announced that he would seek police intervention to implement the proposal of providing free burial services. However, no resolution was adopted in the meeting in this regard.

According to sources few members vehemently opposed the idea of free burial and said that even in some cases Mutwalli was legally bound to collect nominal charge for graves.

Chairman Saleem did not agree with the argument and said that Wakf Board would bring new norms and would not allow any Mutwalli to collect money by allowing land for burial.

After meeting, Saleem told press persons that management of graveyards should not to collect money for



burial. “If they ignore our instructions, I will write a letter to Police Department and will seek their help to settle the matter,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Wakf Board has decided to sanction Rs 1 crore for the renovation and construction of Wazukhana, Niyazkhana, and bathrooms in the Dargah Hazrat Yousufain Nampally.

In the meeting, it was also decided that the Wakf Board’s sub-committee on development will meet on August 19 to take a final call on lease of the 11 prime Wakf properties in the city.

Following frequent complaints about qazis charging Rs 2,000 to perform nikah (marriage), the Wakf Board had also decided to keep a fixed fee for the qazis. Earlier, the board had fixed Rs 320 for per nikah, which could be revised now.

The CEO of Wakf Board was asked to submit a report about the proposed renovation works of Dargah Bada Pahad Nizamabad and Dargah Jahangeer Peeran Shadnagar. Once CEO submits his reports, Wakf Board would sanction the amount, said Chairman Saleem.