Waqf board orders ban on ‘forcible donations’ at Ziyarats

SRINAGAR: In a major development, the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has ordered a ban on forcible donations being received by some people through exploitative means at Ziyarats.
Reports suggest said that the Waqf has been consistently receiving complaints from various sections of the society that several people are receiving forced donations at Ziyarats despite coming from an economically sound background.
Taking note, an order in this regard has been issued by IshtiyaqMohi-ud-din, Executive Magistrate, J&K Waqf Board Srinagar.
“J&K Waqf Board is in receipt of a large number of complaints against some people receiving donations forcibly and through exploitative means at the Ziyarats. Despite coming from a reasonably sound economic background, such people are permanently occupying particular spots within the shrines for their activities, and there are instances when such spots are being outsourced or contracted out against receipt of large sums of money, which violates the sacrosanctity of the Ziyarats”, the order reads.
Whereas, such unethical practices damage the sanctity of such sacred places, and are detrimental to the already strained finances of the J&K Waqf Board. Such pilferages are severely limiting the ability of the Waqf Board to perform basic duties of charity and carry out activities for the upliftment of the poor and disadvantaged groups of the society, and also limit the ability of Waqf to provide different facilities to the Zaireen and carry out infrastructural improvements at the Shrines, it added.
Such people have been repeatedly warned to desist from these activities, as it also sends a very wrong signal to the Zaireen, who are repeatedly requesting J&K Waqf Board to take stern action against such elements, it read.
Now, therefore, a complete ban is hereby ordered on all such unethical practices across the Shrines of J&K UT with immediate effect. Central Waqf Office shall also be verifying the claims of all those performing different religious activities within the Ziyarats of J&K UT, the order reads.
Executive Officers/Administrators and staff posted at Shrines/ Masjids are hereby directed to impose the ban strictly, the order added.
“Any non-compliance of the order be immediately referred to the Central Office so that a complete ban is ordered on the entry of such elements into pious and sacred places like Ziyarats. Notices along with Helpline numbers be pasted at conspicuous places within Ziyarats requesting the general public to inform about such elements. Any dereliction or laxity shown by any employee in this regard shall be viewed seriously and shall invite immediate disciplinary action”, the order added.