Waqf Law: Government will table a bill in Parliament on Thursday to amend the 1995 law governing the Waqf Boards. This bill aims to introduce accountability and transparency into the boards’ functioning and to mandate the inclusion of at least one woman on each board.

“There were demands from the community itself to recast the law for more transparency and accountability. Some Muslim high court judges highlighted that the present law prevents challenges to ‘boards’ decisions in courts. The amendment bill aims to address this issue, a source in the government said.

A provision in the bill makes it mandatory for the Waqf boards to get their properties registered with district collectors to get their valuation correctly. The country has 30 Waqf boards.

Sources said that on Sunday, the estimated annual revenue from all Waqf properties stood at Rs 200 crore. They added that this did not match the large number of properties of these bodies.

Waqf Law Overhaul Proposed

At the very inception, boards had about 52,000 properties in the country. In 2009, that number went up to 3,00,000 with registration of  properties across four lakh acres. Now there are 8,72,292 such properties spanning over eight lakh acres of land.

The amendment bill, proposing up to 40 changes in the present law, can be introduced in the current session of Parliament. Sources said that after its introduction, the government doesn’t plan to leave it pending in Parliament.

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It has proposed certain changes, key in nature, stipulating compulsory verification of land before a board can declare it as Waqf, fresh verification of disputed lands claimed by different state boards, and change regarding composition, which now will have to involve women.

Politicians’ Reaction On Waqf Law

Maulana Abdul Haq Khairabadi wanted to hear about India’s independence after his death, and Hussain Ahmed Madni, who endured imprisonment, would have condemned the loss of land and the Waqf Act Amendment Bill if he had been alive. Asaduddin Owaisi denounces the bill in Parliament.

Maulana Abdul haq Khairabadi ne kaha tha ke jab main inteqal kar jaau to meri qabar pe aakar batao ke Hindustan azaad ho gaya hai. Aur Hussain Ahmed Madni jo 8 mahine Malta jail mein rahe, agar wo zinda rahte to kya kahte? hamaari zameen chheeni Jaa Rahi hai. Hum is qanoon (Waqf… pic.twitter.com/eHyMYrkUD4

— AIMIM (@aimim_national) August 7, 2024

Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal stated, “I fully support introducing any bill affecting a community or its rights only after consulting that community and obtaining their consent.” Did the government discuss the Waqf Board bill with the Muslim community or secure their written approval?”

VIDEO | “I am completely in favour that if a Bill is introduced in favour of a community or related to its rights, then it should be brought after taking that community into confidence. The Waqf Board bill that they are bringing… did they hold discussion with the Muslim… pic.twitter.com/kdCiQhl3dt

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 7, 2024

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