Bombay High Court

RASHED RASHEED SIDDIQUIversusTHE MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF WAQFS THROUGH ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Disposal: DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The Board of Waqfs must decide the petitioner's Section 64 application within six months of receipt of the Court's order.

Summary

The petitioner, Rashed Rasheed Siddiqui, filed an application under Section 64 of the Waqf Act on 24 February 2025 before the Maharashtra State Board of Waqfs. The Board failed to decide the application within a reasonable time, prompting the petitioner to file a writ petition in the Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench. The Court examined whether the Board's delay violated its statutory duty to decide applications expeditiously. It held that the Board must adjudicate the pending application without undue delay. Accordingly, the Court directed the Board to decide the petitioner's application within six months of receiving a copy of the order, and disposed of the writ petition.

Issues considered

What is the Board of Waqfs' statutory obligation under Section 64 of the Waqf Act regarding the time frame for deciding applications?
Whether the delay by the Board justifies issuance of a writ directing expeditious disposal?

Legislation cited

Waqf Act — s. 64

Subjects

Waqf
Section 64
Statutory duty
Writ petition
Expeditious decision

Judgment

2026:BHC-AUG:44037-DB


                                                1                  7-WP-10683-26.odt


                        IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                   BENCH AT AURANGABAD

                             WRIT PETITION NO. 10683 OF 2026

                                  RASHED RASHEED SIDDIQUI
                                            VERSUS
               THE MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF WAQFS THROUGH ITS CHIEF
                                      EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                                ...
              Mr. Nishat Shaikh, Advocate for the Petitioner
              Mr. M. K. Goyanka, AGP for Respondents/State
                                                ...

                                     CORAM : NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI AND
                                             ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, JJ.
                                       DATE : 23rd SEPTEMBER, 2026

              PER COURT :

              .            The writ petition is disposed of by directing the

              respondent Board to decide the proceedings / application filed by

              the petitioner under Section 64 of the Waqf Act, on 24/02/2025, as

              expeditiously as possible and in any case within a period of six

              months from the date of receipt of copy of this order.



                  (ABASAHEB D. SHINDE, J.)          (NITIN B. SURYAWANSHI, J.)




              SVH

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