WAKFS

Scheme for Remuneration to Imams/Muezzins

Submitted by the Government of India to the Supreme Court

In pursuance of the recommendations of the High Power Committee, a small Committee under the chairmanship of Shri Aslam Sher Khan, MOS (PMO &W) has formulated the Scheme in terms of the directions given by the Supreme Court.

The Scheme was approved by the Central Wakf Council at its meeting held on 22.12.1995.

1.              The Scheme shall be called the Scheme for Remuneration to Imams and Muezzins, 1995.

2.              The Scheme shall come into force on 1st December, 1993.

3.              The Scheme shall apply to the following categories of Mosques:-

(a)   Mosques which are under the direct management of a Board of Wakfs...

(b)  Mosques which are registered with a Board of Wakfs and are under the control/management of Muttawalis of various wakfs.

I)              Provided that the Scheme shall not apply to the following categories of Mosques:-

(i)             Mosques under the control or management of the Government except as provided in para 7.

(ii)           Mosques which are not registered with the Wakf Board and are managed by local inhabitants.

(iii)         Mosques which are not managed either by Muttawalis or the Muslims of the locality.

(iv)          Mosques not managed by members of Islamic faith.

4.              According to nature of duty performed by them, Imams can be either full time/part-time or honorary.

5.              (a) Full Time Imams.

II)            In case of full-time Imams, the qualifications and the remuneration shall be on the lines of those adopted by the Punjab and Haryana Wakf Board (as in the) Annexure.

III)          (b) Part-time and Honorary Imams

IV)          The payment of remuneration to part-time Imams with comparable qualifications could be upto a maximum of 50 per cent payable to the full-time Imams. The State Wakf Board shall consider payment of remuneration and allowances to Honorary Imams as follows:-

(i)             Imams who lead only Friday prayers that is once in a week, may be paid honorarium @ Rs. 500 per prayer.

(ii)           Such Honorary Imams who lead all the five prayers on a regular basis and are willing to accept may be paid honorarium@Rs.400, Rs. 500 and Rs. 600 per month, depending whether they are Nazara, Hafiz or Alim. (ii) Such Honorary Imams who do not lead all the five prayers regularly may be paid a honorarium @ Rs.20/- per day irrespective of the number of prayers they lead. Provided that the appropriate Board of Wakfs may, in respect of mosques which are small or are in the rural areas or have no source of income, fix such rates of

(iii)         remuneration for Imams and Muezzins of such a mosque until that mosque is able to find ways and means to raise its income, may be sufficient to pay remuneration at the rates mentioned in (a) or as the case may be (b) above. Provided further that it may be open to a Board of Wakfs or as the case may be, the Muttawali of a Mosque to pay remuneration at rates higher than those mentioned in (a) and (b) above.

6.              In all the above mentioned categories (paras 5 (a) and (b)), the acceptance of remuneration will be on voluntary basis.

7.              The remuneration suggested in para 5 above shall be followed for Imams of Mosques under the control of the Government in cases where they have no independent

V)            income.

8.              The appropriate Board of Wakfs may determine quantum of remuneration to various categories of Imams taking into account, among others, the following factors: (a) whether the mosque is located in urban or rural area.

VI)          (b) Existing mode of payment as also the quantum, if the payment is in kind, whether the same can be quantified.

VII)        (c) Qualification of Imams.

VIII)      (d) Income from mosques, if any.

IX)          (e) Income of the Wakf in which the mosque is comprised.

X)            (f) Collection/donation made for the Imam.

XI)          (g) Grants received from any source for the purpose.

XII)        (h) Whether the Wakf deed provides for specified sources of payment to the Imams.

(i)             Whether Imam is full-time, part-time or honorary.

XIII)      (j) Whether Imam has any known source of income.

XIV)      (k) Any other factor relevant to the local situation.

9.              (1)  The responsibility for implementation of this Scheme shall be on the appropriate Board of Wakfs.

XV)        (2) The appropriate Board of Wakfs shall harness necessary resources in accordance with powers and responsibilities vested with it...

XVI)      Punjab Wakf Board

Annexure

Ref. No. 135 Ed/G/33/II-598-603 dated 22.1.1992

(Extract) Scale    

Medical Allowance.

Imam Alim    1000-15-1150-20-1350-25-1600                 Rs.30/-

Imam Hafiz     950-15-1100-20-1300-25-1550                 Rs.30/-

Imam Nazirah 850-15-1000-20-1200-25-1400                Rs.30/-

Muezzin          800-15-950-20-1150-25-1400                  Rs.30/

Above scale includes dearness and other allowances. In future, there shall be no increment relating to Dearness and other allowances and no application in this regard shall be entertained.