Telangana Waqf Board member seeks disclosure of leased properties and fair rent assessment

Telangana State Waqf Board member Abul Fateh Syed Bandagi Badesha Quadri has urged the Board to disclose details of all leased Waqf properties and appoint an independent Commission to assess market rents and ensure transparency in the management of Waqf assets.

Hyderabad: Telangana State Waqf Board member Abul Fateh Syed Bandagi Badesha Quadri has urged the Board to make public the details of all Waqf properties leased out at nominal rents and to appoint a Commission to determine fair rents in line with prevailing market rates.

Bandagi Badesha said Waqf properties are sacred institutions meant to benefit the Muslim community, and the income generated from them is intended for the welfare of mosques, madrasas, orphanages, charitable institutions and other social and religious causes.

---

He expressed concern that several Waqf properties worth crores of rupees had allegedly been leased out over the years at extremely low rents, resulting in significant losses to the Waqf Board and depriving the community of its rightful benefits.

Referring to the recent enhancement of registration market values and stamp duties by the State government in a press release, Bandagi Badesha called upon the Board to publish a comprehensive list of all leased and rented Waqf properties. The details, he said, should include the name and location of the property, details of tenants or lessees, duration of lease agreements, rent being paid, current market value, prevailing market rent, arrears, if any, and the legal status of occupancy.

Such a move would promote transparency and accountability in the administration of Waqf assets. “If everything has been managed properly, public disclosure will strengthen confidence in the Waqf Board. If irregularities exist, transparency will help initiate corrective measures and safeguard community interests,” he remarked.

The Waqf Board member further stressed that the Muslim community has a right to know how its properties are being administered and whether these valuable assets are generating fair returns.

Bandagi Badesha also proposed the appointment of an independent Commission to assess market-based rental values and recommend revisions wherever leases are found to be significantly below prevailing rates.