The contractual posts for Waqf board called on March 8, 2024 will be decided after a final order of the Manipur High Court as a writ petition is pending in the bench.
The petition was filed before the High Court of Manipur by advocate Md Rabi Khan challenging a notification of commissioner cum secretary (minority affairs), government of Manipur for nomination of Firiz Ahmed Khalid as member of 7th Waqf board.
According to the petition, his client was appointed as a member of 7th Waqf Board, Manipur, constituted by the government of Manipur under Waqf Act, 1995 with a notification issued by secretary (minority affairs), Manipur on March 31, 2021. Thereafter, the commissioner cum secretary (minority affairs), Manipur, issued an order on February 8, 2023 thereby nominating Firoz Ahmed Khalid as member of 7th Waqf Board, Manipur, without issuing any notice or removal order to him.
His client challenged the nomination order by filing a writ petition which was disposed of by a division bench of the HC on November 23, 2023. In the disposition, it directed to allow the petitioner to continue as a member of 7th Waqf board till completion of term of his office as provided under section 15 of the Act.
However, the HC direction was not allowed and instead a notice of nomination of members was issued, thereby initiating recruitment process for making appointments to various posts, the petition added.
A single bench of Justice A Bimol of the HC of Manipur, after hearing submission, stated that any appointment made pursuant to impugned notification will be subject to the outcome of the writ petition.
