Committee to be set up to suggest rentals for Wakf property in J&K

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today ordered constitution of a committee to suggest a mechanism for streamlining the collection of endowments at shrines and rentals, of commercial assets owned by state Wakf Board, in a more transparent manner.

With a view to arresting the potential of pilferage in donation made by the devotees and income generated out of commercial assets owned by J-K Wakf Board, the Chief Minister ordered constitution of a committee to suggest a mechanism to streamline collection of endowments and rentals in a more transparent manner, an official spokesman said.

He said the chief minister also indicated possible revision of rentals on leased-out Wakf Board's landed and commercial assets to improve its weak revenue resource base.

"If need be, we can even contemplate amending the Jammu & Kashmir Muslim Specified Wakf and Specified Wakf Properties Act," the chief minister said, while favouring a sizeable hike in the abysmally-low rentals currently in vogue.

The Chief Minister made these observations while chairing the 21st Board of Directors meeting of J-K Wakf Board here.

Expressing concern over low income generated, Sayeed, who is also the Chairman of the Wakf Board, highlighted the need to embed a system which ensures that endowment money goes straight into the kitty of Board's income so that it is ploughed back into maintenance of assets and shrines.

"We must put a mechanism in place to suggest checks and balances over the collection of donations at various shrines," he said.