Illegal Pandals, Takhts erected for receiving donations at Shrines removed
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Chairperson of Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi on Thursday visited Charar-e-Sharief to inspect the shrine management system here.
She was accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of Waqf Board Dr Syed Majid Jahangir, Tahsildar of Waqf Ishtiaq Mohiuddin and representatives of district administration.
Dr Darakhshan paid obeisance at the shrine of Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani.
After the blanket ban by Waqf Board on compulsive & illegal demand of money at shrines by some people, Dr Andrabi today ordered the removal of all chairs and Takhts erected by the people within the shrine & the campus for receiving donations at shrine of Alamdar which were removed by the Waqf staff immediately.
She ordered the people to help in re-establishing the real befitting environment at these spiritual places.
“The ban on illegal forced donations & occupation of the donation spaces by individuals in shrines is a nuisance and people across J&K have been demanding the abolition of this practice since decades but Waqf was used by politicians for decades for vote bank politics and now we have taken this very important decision as per the provisions of Central Waqf Act. Our aim is to provide a clean, serene and spiritually befitting atmosphere to visitors in all shrines,” said Dr Darakhshan.
“Many hard but necessary decisions are a must for making Waqf an organization as per expectations of the people of J&K. We will be continuously taking bold decisions only to maintain or re-establish the befitting environment at our shrines and also for the productive use of other properties and assets of Waqf in J&K,” said Dr Darakhshan. Dr Andrabi convened meetings with Waqf Board employees at Chrar-e-Sharief & Pakherpora and emphasized on them to change their working behavior and attitude so that the services to the public are provided without any compromise. “Honesty and dedication is the mantra for Waqf employees to ensure the continuance of their services in Waqf. We cannot tolerate any dishonesty and laxity in services,” said Dr Andrabi to employees. She also inspected the Waqf owned rented properties & shops and issued many orders on the spot too.