J&K Waqf Board to reconstruct Hazrat Syed Janbaaz Wali shrine in Baramulla
Synopsis
The J&K Waqf Board has stepped in to fund and execute reconstruction of the Hazrat Syed Janbaaz Wali shrine in Baramulla — including the Shrine Sanctum left out of an existing government restoration project. Chairperson Syed Darakhshan Andrabi made the announcement on-site after sustained pressure from devotees, marking a significant escalation of institutional commitment to the revered Sufi site.
Key Takeaways
J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Syed Darakhshan Andrabi announced reconstruction of the Hazrat Syed Janbaaz Wali shrine in Baramulla on 20 June .
The reconstruction will cover the Shrine Sanctum and all components excluded from the existing Heritage Restoration and Conservation Project.
The decision followed repeated representations from local residents and devotees over gaps in the ongoing project.
Andrabi assured works will preserve the shrine's sanctity, heritage value, and religious significance .
A review meeting was chaired at the DC Office, Baramulla , attended by senior officials from the Waqf Board, R&B Division, and district administration.
J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Syed Darakhshan Andrabi on Saturday, 20 June announced that the board will undertake the reconstruction of the Hazrat Syed Janbaaz Wali shrine in Baramulla town, including the Shrine Sanctum and all components excluded from an ongoing restoration project. The announcement followed an on-the-spot inspection by Andrabi at Khanpora, Baramulla, where a Heritage Restoration and Conservation Project is being executed through the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, J&K.
Background to the Decision
The Waqf Board's intervention came after repeated representations from local residents and devotees, who had raised serious concerns about key components of the shrine being left out of the existing restoration project. The matter had been consistently brought to Andrabi's attention, with stakeholders seeking her personal intervention for a timely resolution.
After conducting a detailed site assessment and taking into account public sentiment, Andrabi announced on the spot that reconstruction of the Shrine Sanctum, along with all other outstanding components and essential developmental and conservation works, would be taken up immediately by the J&K Waqf Board.
What the Chairperson Assured
Andrabi assured devotees and residents that the works would be carried out in a manner that preserves the shrine's sanctity, heritage value, and religious significance, while addressing the aspirations and sentiments of all stakeholders. The announcement was received with appreciation from the local community, with many describing the decision as a sensitive, people-oriented step that balances heritage conservation with public expectations.
Review Meeting at DC Office
Earlier in the day, Andrabi chaired a detailed review meeting at the DC Office, Baramulla, to assess the status and progress of the ongoing project. The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Syed Altaf Hussain Musvi, Executive Magistrate J&K Waqf Board Ishtiyaq Mohiuddin, Executive Engineer R&B Division Baramulla Mohammad Younis Shah, Assistant Executive Engineer Mohammad Ather, Assistant Engineer Asif Khaliq, Executive Engineer J&K Waqf Board Er. Qazi Mushtaq, and Junior Engineer Er. Rehmat Ullah Bhat, among other officials.
Significance of the Shrine
The Hazrat Syed Janbaaz Wali shrine is a revered Sufi site in Baramulla with deep religious and cultural significance for the region's residents and devotees. This comes amid a broader push by the J&K administration to restore and conserve heritage and religious sites across the union territory. The Waqf Board's direct financial and administrative involvement signals an escalation in commitment beyond the scope of the existing archaeology department project.
The timeline for commencement of the Waqf Board-led reconstruction works is yet to be formally announced, and all eyes will be on the pace of execution given the long-standing concerns raised by the local community.
Point of View
Partly as a governance signal in a post-Article 370 context. Whether the Waqf Board can execute reconstruction faster and more comprehensively than the original project — which is still ongoing — is the real question. Timelines and funding specifics were not disclosed at the announcement, which leaves the commitment open to the same scrutiny that prompted the intervention in the first place.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the J&K Waqf Board announce regarding the Hazrat Syed Janbaaz Wali shrine?
The J&K Waqf Board announced it will undertake reconstruction of the Hazrat Syed Janbaaz Wali shrine in Baramulla, including the Shrine Sanctum and all components left out of the existing Heritage Restoration and Conservation Project. Chairperson Syed Darakhshan Andrabi made the announcement on 20 June after an on-site inspection at Khanpora, Baramulla.
Why was the J&K Waqf Board's intervention needed at the Baramulla shrine?
Residents and devotees had raised repeated concerns that important components of the shrine — including the Shrine Sanctum — were excluded from the ongoing restoration project being executed by the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums. Their sustained representations sought Chairperson Andrabi's personal intervention for a timely resolution.
Where is the Hazrat Syed Janbaaz Wali shrine located?
The shrine is located at Khanpora in Baramulla town, Jammu and Kashmir. It is a revered Sufi site of significant religious and cultural importance to the region's residents and devotees.
Who attended the review meeting on the shrine restoration project?
The review meeting at the DC Office, Baramulla was chaired by Waqf Board Chairperson Syed Darakhshan Andrabi and attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Syed Altaf Hussain Musvi, Executive Magistrate Ishtiyaq Mohiuddin, Executive Engineer Mohammad Younis Shah, and other senior officials from the Waqf Board and district administration.
When will the Waqf Board-led reconstruction of the shrine begin?
Chairperson Andrabi announced the works would be taken up immediately, though a formal timeline and funding breakdown had not been disclosed as of the announcement on 20 June. The pace of execution will be closely watched given the community's long-standing concerns.
