Compensation related to Waqf property must be paid to the Waqf, not the Board, pending the new committee's establishment.

O R D E R

An order dated 18.07.2025 of the District Collector is challenged in this writ petition insofar as it directs the payment of compensation to the account of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, Chennai.

2. The principal contention of the petitioner is that the property was owned by the Waqf. Consequently, it is submitted that compensation should be paid to the Waqf and not to the Waqf Board.

3. Learned counsel for the Waqf Board submits that the term of the present committee, including the Secretary/Hazreth Syed Musthafa Darood, expired on 22.01.2025. Therefore, he submits that the petitioner does not have the locus standi to canvass the case on behalf of the Waqf. He also relies upon paragraph 13 of the counter-affidavit to state that the Waqf Board would receive the compensation on behalf of the Waqf and make disbursements to the Waqf upon application by the Waqf.

4. In response to a question as to whether the money would be remitted to the account of the Waqf once the new committee is in place, after getting instructions, learned counsel for the Waqf Board replied in the affirmative.

5. Considering the fact that the term of the present committee, including the secretary, expired in January 2025, it is appropriate that the amount be remitted once the new committee is in place. Therefore, by recording and accepting the statement made on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, this writ petition is disposed of by directing the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board to make the remittance to the account of the Waqf once the new committee of the Waqf is in place. To that extent, the impugned order directing remittance of the compensation to the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board is set aside. It is needless to say that the earlier direction restraining the Waqf Board from utilizing the said amount shall continue to operate until the remittance to the Waqf. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.