Wakf tribunal: Issue of appointment of members reaches Gujarat HC

AHMEDABAD: The issue of appointment of three members in Wakf tribunals has reached to Gujarat high court after the state government intended to appoint only one tribunal in the state to address 200 pending cases.
Petitioner Kasambhai Darjada from Jamnagar has filed a PIL through advocate R C Kakkad demanding appointment of three members – a judicial officer, a government official and a nominee from the Muslim community in each district.Till the amendment in the Wakf Act, tribunal was functioning with the district judge as its member in each district.
The petitioner contended that with amendment in law, three members are required to be appointed for tribunals in each district. The state government insisted that only one tribunal in the state is enough because there are only 200 cases pending at present and for this one tribunal in each district may not be required. However, the petitioner has raised the issue of legality and jurisdiction in this regard.
The petitioner has strongly objected to the proposal of only one tribunal and appointment of one sessions judge as chairman. The government requested the HC to depute a sessions judge for the task, but the petitioner said that there should be regular appointment in each district and sending one judicial officer on deputation would not do.
The HC also wrote a letter to the government seeking certain clarification in this regard, but it did not receive any reply. The HC has granted three weeks’ time to the government for the same.