The records of the Survey Commissioner of Wakf, some of which are 50 to 60 years old, are currently neglected and locked in a flat at the New MLA Quarters in Adarsh Nagar. Despite attempts to contact the caretaker, there has been no response. With the merger of the Commissioner with the Waqf Board, there is currently no official heading the office.
The records date back to the 1950s when the department started conducting surveys of Wakf lands. The first survey was completed in the 1970s, with a Gazette published based on its findings. However, the second survey conducted in the 1990s was never published due to technical issues like the enactment of the new Waqf Act in 1995.
Former Wakf Board member, Moulana Abul Fateh Syed Bandagi Badshah Quadri, has been advocating for digitizing all the records and conducting a new survey by the State government. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding these documents, as they could prove crucial in legal battles against encroachment attempts.
Activists have also raised concerns about the risk of losing these important records to accidents like fire mishaps. They urge the government to take immediate action to protect and digitize the records to prevent any loss of vital information. They also call for a new survey of Wakf lands to prevent further encroachment and ensure their protection.
