The rift between the management of Islamic University ofScience and Technology (IUST) and teh J&K Wakf Board over the ownership ofthe varsity refuses to die. The IUST was promulgated by an Act of J&K StateLegislative Assembly in November 2005. It is a member of All India University(AIU) and is recognised by UGC and AICTE. The state Chief Minister is itsChancellor and its Board is the board of directors of J&K Muslim WakfBoard. The executive council, chaired by Vice Chancellor, is the executive authorityof the University. However, the administration in the university is mullingamendments in the present system which will be followed by establishment ofUniversity Council and Syndicate; something in vogue in other stateUniversities. “Obviously we have to go for it because given the presentposition of Wakf, a University can’t be run by them,” an official at IUST said.The official said Wakf Board had made some agreements on the basis of whichUniversity was supposed to function under their control. However, he said, theBoard failed to fulfil its commitments and still want to control the Varsity.”At the time of establishment of the University, Wakf Board had made a writtenagreement that it will provide one time financial support of Rs 20 crore, and yearlyfinancial assistance of Rs 2 crore. But 13 years have passed and Wakf hasprovided us just a few crores,” he said. The official said that the Wakf can’tcontrol the University without fulfilling its commitments. “There were othercommitments made by Wakf, including establishment of nursing colleges, also notfulfilled,” he said.
However, an official in Wakf Board contradicted theUniversity claims, saying the land on which IUST has been set up was donated byWakf. “These are around 200 kanals of land on which the University is built. Wehave also provided them financial assistance from time to time,” the officialsaid. The contest is deepening with both trying to legitimise the control overthe institution. “If the University was owned by Wakf then we would not haveapproached UGC and MHRD for grants. The University has witnessed tremendousinfrastructural development over the past few years because of the financialsupport provided by the UGC and the MHRD,” the university official said. Some20 years ago Wakf had established a higher secondary school on the land whichwas later donated to the IUST. The school is now provided with academic andinfrastructural support by the IUST. “The Mantaqi School is a glaring exampleshowing how Wakf board is carelessly running its institution. It was after 20years that the school got proper toilet facility,” the official said. In 2015,the then Education Minister during his visit to the IUST had directed itsadministration to adopt Mantaqi Memorial Higher Secondary School and provideinfrastructure and academic assistance to the school children. The decision wastaken after witnessing the shabby condition of the school. “The school wasestablished more than 20 years ago and then IUST was asked to adopt it, to makeit vibrant,” the university official said.
Meanwhile, an official in Governor’s administration saidboth the “parties” were at fault as there are communication gaps which willruin the progress of the varsity. “The management board of the University hadto be controlled by Wakf if it provided the financial assistance fordevelopment of the University. But University people want Wakf only to providefunds and not to have its control over the functioning of the institution,” theofficial said. He said Wakf as an institution could have performed better. “TheWakf Council, Jammu generates a revenue of Rs 18 to Rs 20 crore annually whichis pumped back in the system to develop assets. We have given Rs 2 crore toBGSBU out of the revenue generated from Wakf Council, Jammu,” the officialsaid. He said Wakf Council manages all developmental works in Rajouri and otherareas. “But we have no records about how much money is generated from shrinesand other religious institutions,” he said. He said Wakf Board was all scattered,and it was a herculean task to clean the system. “The basic problem is that ifa small action is initiated against people they start taking refuge inreligious sentiment,” the official said. “But now the Board has got new ViceChairman and there are expectations of some reform,” the official said. Theofficial, however, said the IUST definitely had an arrangement with Wakf andlatter was supposed to provide financial assistance to the institution. “Therehas been no contribution from Wakf towards IUST which has been equally ignoredby the University administration and it remained dependent on grant-in-aid fromgovernment of India,” the official said. Registrar IUST Prof Riyaz Rufai saidthe University was autonomous institution and under the control of Chancellor.”Wakf owes us Rs 60 crore. They have only provided us land on which they hadestablished Mantqi Memorial School. Now the school has also been handed over tothe University,” Prof Rufai said. He said Wakf can’t dictate terms to theUniversity without fulfilling its commitment. “Besides University, weestablished two nursing colleges with the support from state Government. Wakfhas not played any role in it,” he said. But Vice Chairman Wakf Board G R Sufisaid the University was owned by the Board as it has provided financialassistance to the varsity from time to time. “We have given Rs 10 crore andover 200 kanals of land to them. We also own the two nursing colleges as well.As per the Act, the University is under Wakf Board. They have to be under ourcontrol… University was directly financed and founded by Wakf and should havebeen managed by Wakf,” he said, adding Wakf has given Rs 10 crore to IUSTincluding Rs 1 crore each for establishment of nursing college. “It has beenlearnt that they are going for some amendments in the Act, but I will convene ameeting with the University,” he said.