Agartala: The Tripura cabinet of ministers has given its approval for setting up the 2013 amendment of the Waqf Act in compilation with the central law for the protection of waqf property, law minister Ratan Lal Nath said.

Speaking in a press conference, Nath said that the cabinet has determined to formulate a tribunal and the district magistrates would be instructed to conduct a new survey to reclaim the waqf land. The minister said, “In the last 30 years, 1,400 acres of land have been occupied during the previous government which cried foul for the minority community for vote bank politics.” The cabinet has adopted the amendment and approved the Tripura Waqf Tribunal Rule 2020, Nath added.

He also said that in 2013, the central government had amended the 'Waqf Act' and accordingly the states were recommended to form a uniform rule. However, the previous government did not act on it.

Speaking further he said that the tribunal is mandatory as per the amendment because, if there is any problem with the waqf property, it is very important to have a tribunal for a quick settlement.

"Tripura has a total of 2,643 waqf properties across state comprising of 3,000 Kani land, of which 771 waqf properties amounting to 1,400 acres of land have been occupied in last 30 years," the law minister said.

He expressed surprise that many more waqf properties, including the Gedu Miah Mosque in Agartala and the graveyard in AD Nagar, had been occupied. Not only that, the then Left leader has built houses on some lands.

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