Wakf Board claims Humayun's Tomb

Nivedita Khandekar, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, October 26, 2010




Claiming ownership of more than 150 heritage properties, including the World Heritage Site of Humayun's Tomb in the city, the Delhi Wakf Board has said these properties are under unauthorised possession of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The Wakf Board also claimed ownership of the Masjid Quwat-ul-Islam inside the Qutb Minar.

 

Other prominent heritage structures from the list of 158 properties, which the Wakf Board claimed to be "under unauthorised encroachment of ASI" include Jama Masjid inside Kotla Firoz Shah, Masjid Qudsia Bagh (Near ISBT Kashmere Gate), Masjid Khair-ul Manzil (Mathura Road), Maqbara Feroz Shah Tughlaq (village Hauz Khas), Masjid Arab Ki Sarai (Nizamuddin), Maqbara Maulana Jamali Kamali (Mehrauli) and Masjid Begum Pur (Begumpur village).

 

This was revealed as part of reply to a query under Right to Information filed by Afroz Alam Sahil, an activist from Okhla. ‘The ASI came into existence much later. Our records clearly show the dates on which a particular property was declared as wakf property," said a senior Wakf Board official.

 

ASI Delhi circle chief KK Muhammed rubbished the claim and said these are protected monuments, whose ownership lies with the ASI.

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