HC raps AAP govt for not evicting Waqf property encroachers

The Delhi High Court today pulled up the Delhi government and other agencies over their failure to enforce the pending eviction orders against encroachers of 990 Waqf properties in the national capital.
The court also directed the Delhi government, Waqf Board and other authorities to file an action taken report (ATR) within four weeks with regard to the recovery of properties, failing which it "shall be compelled to initiate action against the officer concerned of the area".
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said that despite an order for the ATR, the agencies have not filed it.

"Last opportunity is given to the authorities to file the report," the bench said and fixed the matter for further hearing on November 24.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by advocate Shahid Ali on 990 waqf properties, claiming these have already been ordered to be vacated from illegal and unauthorised occupation of encroachers under the Waqf Act, but the concerned sub- divisional magistrates were not enforcing the orders.
Earlier, the court had asked the counsel for the Revenue Authority, under which all sub-divisional magistrates of Delhi fall, why were the Waqf laws framed and what was their utility if there was no intention to enforce them.