Waqf Board to set up panel

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 16

Following complaints of irregularities against the management of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, the Delhi Waqf Board has decided to set up a new committee to look after the dargah and ensure a proper audit of its donations. The move has not gone down well with dargah officials.

Board chairperson Amanatullah Khan said soon a committee will be formed that will keep a record of the donations received at the Sufi shrine and ensure it is properly utilised for the welfare of people.

In this regard, applications have been invited from eminent citizens, who will be responsible for maintenance of the dargah and audit of the donations received. There were complaints of allegations of irregularities in maintaining record of the donations, he claimed.

However, Farid Ahamad Nizami, a member of the coordination committee of the dargah, has denied the allegations saying 'pirzadas' or the managers of Sufi mausoleums and descendants of those buried at the dargah have been taking care of the dargah for centuries with the help of offerings of the devotees.

The dargah of Nizamuddin Aulia has mazars of the Sufi saint and his disciple, Amir Khusrau. The offerings/ donations coming from the devotees are collected through around 400 such managers, said Nizami.

As has been the tradition, some part of the offerings is divided among the managers and the rest of it is used in maintenance of the shrine, he added citing a 1970 gazette notification of the Waqf Board.