The committee recommended that in the civil services tests conducted by the UPSC, an examination for the cadre of Indian Wakf Services should also be included and those Muslims candidates who qualify in the examinations be made CEOs of Wakf boards.

Mahmood, who was once an officer on special duty in the Prime Minister's Office, pointed out that 'most of the CEOs of the 27 Wakf boards in the country are promoted officers and not of the appropriate seniority level, which is not in consonance with the Wakf Act'.

Under the concept of Wakf, Muslims adhering to the principles of 'endowment' embedded in Islam donate large and valuable amounts of property in the name of Allah. The proceeds from these properties - from their sale, rent or use for the welfare of the community - are dedicated to meeting the needs of the poor and the maintenance of the property.

There are 27 Wakf boards in the country functioning under different state governments. The states of Haryana and Punjab have a joint Wakf board. Apart from these Wakf boards there is a Central Wakf Council which gives direction to them.

India, with 150 million Muslims, has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia.

(Khalid Akhter can be contacted at khalid.a@ians.in)