Convene Board Meeting Within A Month For Payment Of Salaries To Employees: High Court To Delhi Waqf Board’s CEO

The Delhi High Court has recently directed the CEO of Delhi Waqf Board to convene a meeting of the Board within one month for raising funds and clearing outstanding salaries to its employees.

Justice Chandra Dhari Singh also directed the Members of the Board to “attend, partake and cooperate” in the meeting.

“Accordingly, the CEO, Delhi Waqf Board is directed to convene the Meeting of the Board within one month for the purposes of raising funds and clearing the outstanding dues of the petitioners. The Members of the Board shall also attend, partake and cooperate in the said Meeting,” the court said in the order passed on July 11.

The court was hearing a plea moved by employees of the Delhi Waqf Board in January, over non payment of salaries and allowances to them. Employees said they have been hanging in lurch as they are being deprived of their legitimate salary on one pretext or another, by virtue of delayed salary computation.

“Considerably, the employees of the Delhi Waqf Board are facing unfathomable financial hardships and are constrained to take loans from friends and family even for the basic needs of their respective families for their survival. Notwithstanding their financial hardships, they have been completely devoted towards discharge of their respective duties,” the plea states.

It adds that as a last resort, the Delhi Waqf Board Employees Association (DWBEA) on January 09 convened a meeting to discuss the issue of non payment of their salaries wherein it was resolved that they will approach court for a resolution to their situation.

“Because, as per Section 17 of the Waqf Act, 1995, the Board has to meet for the transactions of its business. However, after 05.01.2022 no meeting of the Board has convened. Albeit, the employees of the Board have been trying to run the functions of the Board under the guidance of the established principles and of the Section Officers, however, for various decisions, viz. creation of tenancies, eviction of the trespassers, recovery of rent and other dues the Resolutions of the Board are required, which can only be passed at the meeting of the Board,” the plea states.

The Board’s CEO, who was summoned by the court on June 01, gave an assurance that the Meeting of the Board will be convened in the near future.

On the other hand, the Chairman of Delhi Waqf Board submitted that since the meeting of the Board has not been convened, requisite funds have not been raised.

While listing the matter for hearing on August 22, the court directed the Board’s CEO to remain present before it.

Advocates M. Sufian Siddiqui, Rakesh Bhugra, Kumar Satish Shah and Alya Veronica appeared for the petitioners.

Case Title: DELHI WAQF BOARD EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION & ANR v. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DELHI WAQF BOARD & ORS

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