New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) A member of the Sachar Committee has demanded creation of the Indian Wakf Service (IWS), as recommended by the committee to look after Wakf properties across the country, saying it is a fundamental right of the Muslims.


Syed Zafar Mahmood, a 1977 batch retired IAS officer, who was also associated with the Sachar Committee, said creating IWS is not a symbol of ghettoisation.

“This is not ghettoisation but it is a fundamental rights of Muslims which is given in article 19 of the Constitution of India," he said.

Minister of Minority Affairs Salman Khursheed had termed it as ghettoisation last week and said "we can't create a special service for Muslims".

According to the Indian Wakf Act, the chief executive officer should be Muslim.

Sachar Committee, headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar, was constituted by the prime minister to prepare a report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim in India.

“In several states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala there are separate selections that are made through provincial public service commissions for special cadres to look after Hindu temple under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, then why is creating IWS termed as ghettoisation," Mahmood questioned.

The Waqf Amendment Bill 2011, following recommendations of the Sachar Committee, was passed by the Lok Sabha last year and sent to Rajya Sabha, which constituted a select committee, headed by Saifuddin Soz, to look into it.

The select committee was formed in August last year and its report is awaited.