NEW DELHI: Continuing to undo what’s done by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Najeeb Jung declared as void the reconstitution of the Delhi Waqf Board and the appointment of a chief executive officer. Further, he referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an investigation.
Jung’s veto comes about a month after AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan resigned as chairman of the body, following allegations that he appointed a number of his friends and relatives to different posts on the board.
Jung also directed that revenue secretary of Delhi will now exercise all powers and duties of the Delhi Waqf Board and special secretary for environment S M Ali will discharge the functions of the CEO as an additional charge.
A statement issued by Raj Niwas said: “The Revenue Department’s notification dated Oct. 8, 2015 superseding the Delhi Waqf Board, the order dated March 19,2015 reconstituting the Delhi Waqf Board and orders of the services department dated April 28 2016 appointing Mehboob Alam as CEO are declared illegal and void ab initio for not having obtained the approval of the competent authority and are revoked immediately.”
Jung further stated that since the term of the Delhi Waqf Board (constituted in 2011) is to expire in December 2016 and five of its seven members have already resigned, no purpose would be served by reviving the board. Therefore the Delhi Waqf Board is superseded under Section 99 of the Act till the expiry of its term, it said.
“In view of the deliberate and persistent acts of illegality, violation of rules, allegations of corruption and possibility of malafide, the whole matter related to Delhi Waqf Board is referred to the CBI for an investigation,” the Raj Niwas stated.