Gujarat high court on Thursday stayed all transactions on 26 properties owned by Muslim religious trusts across the state, the value of which is estimated at Rs 200 crore, after Gujarat Wakf Board granted permission for the sales despite express prohibition in the amended law of 2013.

Last month the state government had also ordered the maintenance of the status quo on dealings regarding these 26 properites, after an uproar by members of the Muslim community . The newly-formed Save Wakf Properties Movement Gujarat filed a PIL demanding the quashing of all sale permissions and demanding action against board members for illegally granting permission to sell these properties.

The petitioner contended that when this issue was raised before the Central Wakf Council, it suggested that the state government take action against the erring office bearers of the board.