LG approves appointment of Delhi Waqf Board CEO, slams AAP for ‘casual’ approach

New Delhi, Jan 4 (PTI) Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has approved the appointment of IAS officer Azimul Haque as the CEO of Delhi Waqf Board, and slammed the AAP government for its “callousness” in treating the issue in a “casual” manner without following legal provisions, officials said on Saturday.

The post of chief executive officer (CEO) in Delhi Waqf Board was lying vacant since November 28, 2024, the LG said in a statement.

“However, the (AAP) government sent a proposal to give additional charge of CEO (to an official) after a lapse of one month. Due to this callousness on the part of the government, the day-to-day functions of the Board such as releasing salaries to imams and other functionaries were held up,” the LG said.

“Keeping in view the hardships faced by the imams/mutawallis who are poor people suffering due to non-payment of salaries in the absence of a CEO, I am approving the proposal,” Saxena said.

“However, the proposal should be ratified by the Board before the appointment takes effect. Further, it is advised that in future, the proposal should be sent for my consideration strictly as per the provisions of law,” the LG added.

Even now the proposal has been sent by the government in a casual manner, without following legal provisions, he claimed.

As per the Delhi Waqf Act, 1995, enacted by Parliament, the appointment of a CEO is to be made in terms of Section 23 of the Act, which, among others, provides that a panel of two names be suggested by the Board to the state government for appointment as the CEO, Saxena said.

“However, the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) did not place on record the panel of names duly recommended by the Board, but instead submitted the name of a single officer for my consideration for assigning additional charge,” Saxena added.