As per the Waqf Act, 1954, the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board was constituted on 18.01.1958. After the implementation of the Waqf Act, 1995 (Central Act 43 of 1995), the Government constitutes the Board once in every 5 years. As per the provisions of the Wakf Act, 1995 (Central Act 43 of 1995) and the Rules framed there under, the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board was constituted with effect from 10.6.1997. The Board was lastly reconstituted in the year 2020. Further, the vacancies caused during the year 2024 August, the Board members have elected Thiru K.Navaskani, M.P., as Chairperson of the Board on 19.09.2024. It has 11 zonal offices with Chennai as its Head quarters.
Establishment
The Chief Executive Officer is the administrative head. For the efficient administration throughout the State of Tamil Nadu, the office is having 11 zonal offices at Chennai, Poonamallee, Vellore, Cuddalore, Salem, Coimbatore, Thanjavur, Trichy, Madurai, Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli. Each zone is headed by one Superintendent. There are also Waqf Inspectors functioning in all the 38 Districts.
Functions of the Board
- To maintain a record containing information relating to the origin, income, object and beneficiaries of every Waqf.
- To ensure that the income and other properties of the Waqfs are applied to the objects and for the purposes for which such Waqfs were created or intended.
- To give directions for the administration of the Waqf.
- To settle scheme of management for Waqfs.
- To scrutinize and approve the Budget submitted by Muthawallis and to arrange for the auditing of the accounts of the Waqfs.
- To appoint and remove Muthawallis in accordance with the provisions of the Waqf Act.
- To take measures for the recovery of the lost properties of Waqfs.
- To institute and defend suits and proceedings in a Court of law relating to Waqfs and their properties.
- To administer the Waqf fund.
- To call for such returns, statistics, accounts and other information from the Muthawallis with respect to the Waqf properties as the Board may require from time to time.
- To inspect or cause inspection of Waqf properties, accounts or records or deeds and documents relating thereto;
- To investigate and determine the nature and extent of Waqfs and Waqf properties and to cause, whenever necessary, survey of Waqf properties;
- To do generally all such acts as may be necessary for the due control, maintenance and administration of Waqfs.
Apart from this, the Board is implementing certain schemes for the needy Waqf institutions such as Renovation scheme for the repair and renovation of Waqf properties, Major Renovation Scheme,
Scheme for construction of compound wall / barbed wire fencing around Burial Ground, Ulema pension scheme, Payment of maintenance to Muslim women as ordered by a Court and also supervising M.S.S. Wakf Board College, Madurai as per rules and regulation of the College.
There are 6607 Waqf Institutions under the supervisory control of Tamil Nadu Waqf Board of which, 3082 are registered Waqfs and 3525 are unregistered Waqfs.
Direct Management
For administrative reasons, some of the waqfs are taken under direct management of Tamil Nadu Waqf Board under section 65 of the Waqf Act, 1995 and Executive Officers are appointed to administer the Waqfs under direct management. At present 42 Waqf institutions are under direct management of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board.
Survey of Waqf properties
Under section 4 of the Waqf Act 1995, the Government has appointed the Commissioner of Survey as Survey Commissioner of Waqfs for the purpose of survey of the Waqfs existing in the State. District Revenue Officers were appointed as Additional Survey Commissioner of Waqfs and Tahsildars in the State have been designated as Assistant Commissioner of Waqfs.
As per the direction of the Government, District-wise particulars of Waqf properties have been extracted from the original registers of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board already prepared as per the provisions of Waqf Act, 1995 and handed over to all the District Revenue Officers in the State. As per the details submitted, the Survey Commissioner of Waqfs have completed the survey of Waqf properties relating to 27 districts in the State of Tamil Nadu and the survey of Waqf properties in the remaining districts are under progress.
Retrieval of Waqf properties from Encroachments
Action is being taken for retrieval of Waqf properties under section 54 of the Waqf Act, 1995 and the Tamil Nadu Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1975.
At present, Waqf Properties worth Rs.15800/- lakh with an extent of 16 lakh sq.ft. have been recovered from the encroachers and handed over to the concerned Waqf Institutions.
Further, concerned Sub Registrars are addressed under Section 22A of the Registration Act, 1908 not to register Waqf properties in favour of third parties without obtaining No Objection Certificate from Tamil Nadu Waqf Board.
Waqf Tribunal
In order to resolve the disputes relating to Waqf properties, the Government of Tamil Nadu constituted Tamil Nadu Waqf Tribunal under section 83 of the Waqf Act, 1995. The Tribunal is functioning at door No.5, Kamarajar Salai, Chennai-600 005 from 06.08.2018.
The Waqf Tribunal consists of a District Sessions or Civil Judge as the Chairman, an officer from the State Civil Services and a person having knowledge of Muslim Law.
Sanction of Administrative Grant by the Government
The Tamil Nadu Government sanctions Rs.2.5 Crores every year as Administrative Grant to the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board.
Further, orders were issued to sanction an additional amount of 5% incentive received in proportion to the contributions received from the Waqf Institutions and it will be given to the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board along with the Administrative Grant from the year 2022 – 2023 onwards.
Construction of Zonal Offices - Grants sanctioned to Tamil Nadu Waqf Board
An announcement has been made that building for 8 Zonal Offices of Tamil Nadu Waqf Board at Poonamallee, Vellore, Cuddalore, Trichy, Thanjavur, Madurai, Ramanathapuram and Salem will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.16 lakhs for each zonal office building. At the first instance the Government has sanctioned and released grant of Rs.64 lakh for construction of 4 Zonal Offices at Poonamallee, Vellore, Ramanathapuram and Cuddalore.
Maintenance Payments to Divorced Muslim Women
As per the Section 4 (2) of the Muslim Women (Protection of rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 maintenance amount is paid to divorced Muslim Women by the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board as per the orders of the Court. The expenditure to the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board for this purpose is Rs.67,800/- per annum.
Honorarium to Kazis
The Government of Tamil Nadu has ordered to pay honorarium of Rs,20,000/- per month to Kazis working in Tamil Nadu from 01.03.2016.
Schemes Executed by the Board with the assistance of the Government
Ulema Pension (Tamil Nadu) Scheme 1981
