54. Removal of encroachment from 1 [waqf] property.--(1) Whenever the Chief Executive Officer considers whether on receiving any complaint or on his own motion that there has been an encroachment on any land, building, space or other property which is 1 [waqf] property and, which has been registered as such under this Act, he shall cause to be served upon the encroacher a notice specifying the particulars of the encroachment and calling upon him to show cause before a date to be specified in such notice, as to why an order requiring him to remove the encroachment before the date so specified should not be made and shall also send a copy of such notice to the concerned mutawalli.

(2) The notice referred to in sub-section (1) shall be served in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) If, after considering the objections, received during the period specified in the notice, and after conducting an inquiry in such manner as may be prescribed, the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied that the property in question is 1 [waqf] property and that there has been an encroachment on any such 1 [waqf] property, 2 [he may, make an application to the Tribunal for grant of order of eviction for removing] such encroachment and deliver possession of the land, building, space or other property encroached upon to the mutawalli of the 1 [waqf].

3 [(4) The Tribunal, upon receipt of such application from the Chief Executive Officer, for reasons to be recorded therein, make an order of eviction directing that the waqf property shall be vacated by all persons who may be in occupation thereof or any part thereof, and cause a copy of the order to be affixed on the outer door or some other conspicuous part of the waqf property:

Provided that the Tribunal may before making an order of eviction, give an opportunity of being heard to the person against whom the application for eviction has been made by the Chief Executive Officer.

(5) If any person refuses or fails to comply with the order of eviction within forty-five days from the date of affixture of the order under sub-section (2), the Chief Executive Officer or any other person duly authorised by him in this behalf may evict that person from, and take possession of, the waqf property.]

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Footnote -

1. Subs. by Act 27 of 2013, s. 4, for "wakf" (w.e.f. 1-11-2013).

2. Subs. by s. 32, ibid., for "he may, by an order, require the encroacher to remove" (w.e.f. 1-11-2013).

3. Subs. by s. 32, ibid., for sub-section (4) (w.e.f. 1-11-2013).