Waqf Board Submits Draft Policy In Delhi HC For Management Of Amir Khusro Park To Check Encroachment, Ease Pressure On Resources

With the Delhi High Court expressing concern over rampant encroachment inside and around Amir Khusro Park, which is also known as Tikona graveyard, the Delhi Waqf Board on Tuesday submitted a draft policy for managing the property as a “model green graveyard” while addressing the concerns of graveyard and space crunch.

The waqf board said the draft policy was necessary to be implemented by a managing committee for the regulation of burials in this graveyard and proposes against permanent graves.

 The draft policy contains measures to regulate security, burial, financial aspects etc, which the board said, were necessary since the land of graveyard requires to be protected from future encroachment and keep it in good shape.

“If implemented, this policy shall not only ensure that this graveyard becomes a model graveyard but shall also act as a harbinger for the reforms of other graveyards in the city, thereby reducing the pressure on the resources,” it said.

While preparing this policy, the board has made efforts not to interfere with the religious part of burial practices.

It is to be noted that till date there are no set rules or policy followed for management of graveyards in Delhi and they are not recycled in general, with the waqf board saying there is a hesitant consensus on the reuse of graves and construction of permanent graves prevents further burial in the same grave.

As per the draft policy, the total area covered by the structures would not exceed 10% of the total area falling within the boundary walls. This 10% includes the existing dargahs and mosques.

The place for burials would be clearly earmarked and would not be more than 60% of the total land falling inside the boundary.

No permanent graves would be allowed.

As per the draft policy, the allottee/legal heirs can choose to reuse the grave for further burials within the period of allotment. However, if the period of reuse falls beyond the period for which allotment is taken, then fresh allotment fee would be charged as per the rate of allotment on the date of fresh allotment.