Ahmedabad, December 17 (IANS). The Gujarat High Court, while giving an important verdict on the disputes related to Waqf properties of the state, made it clear that now payment of court fees will be mandatory in the cases filed in the Waqf Tribunal. Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghvi on Wednesday described this decision as historic and talked about equal law for all.
Earlier, due to lack of clear provisions regarding court fees in the old Waqf Act, fees were not charged in these cases, due to which fake or non-serious claims were increasing and the backlog of pending cases was increasing. This decision of the High Court will have a deep impact on the administration and management of all Waqf properties, from small religious places to big mosques.
The court said that no party is above the process of law and all are equal in the eyes of the law. With this decision, only genuine and serious disputes will reach the court, which will enable faster disposal of pending cases.
Harsh Sanghvi, while talking to journalists, welcomed this decision and called it historic. He said, “Everyone is equal in the eyes of law. This decision will strengthen the justice system and curb fake claims. The state government is committed to better management and transparency of Waqf properties.”
Taking a dig at the Congress, he said, “The Waqf law, which was brought in by the Congress for political gains through vote-bank politics, had provisions that exempted Waqf properties and tribunal cases from court fees. On the contrary, court fees were imposed on properties belonging to temples, gurudwaras and other religious institutions and tribunal cases.”
Sanghvi further said, “Today, the Gujarat High Court has decided to impose court fees on about 150 waqf lands and tribunal cases, which is historic. Everyone is welcoming this decision of the High Court. The decision is completely clear about uniform law for all.”
Let us tell you that the High Court disposed of more than 150 separate petitions together. These petitions mainly challenged the demand for payment of court fees before the hearing by the Waqf Tribunal. The High Court rejected these challenges and ordered the implementation of the fees.
–IANS
SCH/ABM