The Madras High Court has made it clear that the administration of the Nagore dargah and its properties is vested only in the Tamil Nadu Wakf board and not the Nagapattinam principal district court.
The court currently administers the Wakf through a board, comprising hereditary trustees.
A division bench of Justices M Sathyanarayanan and N Seshasayee said the power of superintendence of the board stops on determination of surplus income meant for the 'kasupangudars' (sharers of money).
The board cannot claim contribution in relation to surplus funds meant for distribution to 'kasupangudars', the bench said.
The bench made the decision on a batch of pleas filed over the past eight years challenging the move of the board to take over the administration of the affairs of the dargah.
On the second aspect of the plea on who would be the successor of Haja Vanchur Pakir Sahib, one among the eight hereditary trustees, who passed away on December 4, 2013, the bench held that only a civil court has the jurisdiction to decide on it.
Only the subordinate judges court, Nagapattinam has to decide on the matter, the court said and directed it to dispose of the matter within six months.
Nagore Dargah is a dargah built over the tomb of Sufi saint Nagore Shahul Hamid (14901579 CE) and is located in Nagore, a coastal town in Tamil Nadu.
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