Won’t challenge ruling, says Sunni Waqf Board

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, November 9

Chairman of the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB) Zufar Faruqi on Saturday declared that the board will not go for a review petition of the Supreme Court verdict or file a curative petition in the case.

Speaking to reporters, Faruqi said the board was ‘grateful’ to the Supreme Court for setting aside as ‘erroneous’ the observation of one of the judges of the Allahabad High Court in 2010 which diluted the provision of the Places of Worship Act, 1991.

He said the Board humbly accepted the verdict of the apex court in the Ayodhya case. Responding to a question about a section of people considering a review of the verdict, Faruqi said no such statement could be made on behalf of the board and should be considered as an individual’s personal opinion.

Regarding the verdict of handing over 5 acres of land to the UPSCWB, Faruqi said they had not made any such plea and hence he would not be able to comment upon it till he reads the judgment.

On another question on where the land for the masjid would be taken, Faruqi said he would make a statement on the issue only after consulting the full board 

Faruqi said he did not agree with AIMIM President and MP Asaduddin Owaisi’s statement regarding the verdict of not giving justice and Muslims party not needing the 5 acres of land as donation. Owaisi had agreed with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) position of not being satisfied with the judgment.

Earlier in the day, the board’s lawyer Zafaryab Jilani had said they are dissatisfied with the court's verdict and will appeal against it. “The Ayodhya verdict has a lot of contradictions. We will seek a review as we are not satisfied with the verdict,” he had said.