Delegation urges transparency in Telangana Waqf Board affairs
HYDERABAD: A delegation of civil society members met with Dr. Mohammed Asadullah, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Telangana State Waqf Board, on Thursday. They pressed for greater transparency, the implementation of pending RTI applications, and action on a 2018 Central Waqf Council (CWC) report detailing alleged corruption in the Board.
The delegation, which included Dr. Lubna Sarwath, Mubasheruddin, Nayeemullah Sharif, and Prof. Anwar Khan, submitted a copy of the CWC report, which documents instances of malpractice within the State Waqf Board since 1996. The report also highlights the inaccessibility of the Board’s Record Room, which remains locked.
The members informed the CEO that the same report had been submitted to the Waqf Board Chairman on September 24, 2025. No response has been received so far.
Dr. Asadullah informed the delegation that a counter-report had been filed in response to the CWC findings. The delegation assured him that they would study the three-member committee’s rebuttal, prepared by Rais Khan Pathan, Adv. Naushad T.O., Wasim Rahatali Khan, and submit a detailed response soon.
Pending RTI applications and database issues raised
The delegation told the CEO about several RTI applications filed since September 2025. Responses for these applications are still pending. Under Section 4 of the RTI Act, the Board’s website should proactively disclose such replies. The CEO directed his staff to dispose of the applications promptly.
The delegation discussed issues related to the Waqf database and noted the absence of a list of Board members and staff on the official website. They contested the Public Information Officer’s claim that staff details are exempt from RTI, arguing that such information does not qualify for exemption under the RTI Act.
