Andhra Pradesh: Why was the waqf board dissolved?

In a bid to overturn another legacy of the previous government, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has dissolved the waqf board in the state.

A senior official said this was being done to promote good governance and safeguard the waqf properties!

The CEO of the AP State Waqf Board had apparently told the government that it had been "non-functional" for a long time and that there were petitions in court questioning its legality.

There was some controversy over the nominated members — 7 of the 11 members are nominated — and the High Court had issued interim orders stopping the appointment of the waqf board chairman.

It was legal issues that led to the non-functioning of the board, and therefore the government had issued an order to dissolve and replace the board, the official said.

The Naidu government says, however, that it is committed to ensuring the smooth functioning of the waqf board and looking after the welfare of minorities in the state, he added.