NEW DELHI: Amid opposition’s demand that it be sent to a joint committee, the govt is set to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in Lok Sabha on Thursday that proposes far-reaching changes to restrain the powers of Waqf Boards to declare a property as ‘Waqf’ and introduce a detailed process to do so, including preliminary survey by the district magistrate instead of the survey officer of the board as a pre-requisite for any such determination.
The bill seeks to broaden the composition of the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards by providing for representation of Muslim women and non-Muslim members.
The bill also provides for a full-time chief executive officer of Waqf Boards to be appointed by the state govt and who shall not be below the rank of joint secretary to the state govt and not necessarily a Muslim.
The most critical of the proposed amendments relates to the repeal of Section 40 of the existing law that empowers Waqf Boards to decide if a property is a Waqf asset, change in the composition of Waqf tribunals and allowing for appeals in high courts against their decisions within 90 days.
Oppn wants bill be sent to parl panel, Muslim bodies threaten to launch stir
Accordingly, the provision in the current Act which says “decision of the tribunal in respect of such matter shall be final” will be dropped. Introduced in 2013 under the Congress-led UPA govt, this provision has been a bone of contention.
To address a long-pending demand, the bill also provides for establishment of separate Board of Auqaf for Bohras and Agakhanis; besides providing representation of Shias, Bohras, Agakhanis and backward Muslims in Waqf Boards.
Issuance of a ‘Waqf deed’ and certification will be mandatory for new properties under assessment.
The move comes amid strong opposition by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board which has threatened to launch a mass movement, and organisations like Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind.
At the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, opposition parties demanded that the legislation be sent to a parliamentary committee.
Sources said parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, also the minister of minority affairs, said the govt would take a decision on Thursday.
Interestingly, with the department-related standing committees not in place yet, the bill may be forwarded to a special committee in case govt accepts the opposition’s demand.
The bill seeks to broaden the composition of the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards by providing for representation of Muslim women and non-Muslim members.
The bill also provides for a full-time chief executive officer of Waqf Boards to be appointed by the state govt and who shall not be below the rank of joint secretary to the state govt and not necessarily a Muslim.
The most critical of the proposed amendments relates to the repeal of Section 40 of the existing law that empowers Waqf Boards to decide if a property is a Waqf asset, change in the composition of Waqf tribunals and allowing for appeals in high courts against their decisions within 90 days.
Oppn wants bill be sent to parl panel, Muslim bodies threaten to launch stir
Accordingly, the provision in the current Act which says “decision of the tribunal in respect of such matter shall be final” will be dropped. Introduced in 2013 under the Congress-led UPA govt, this provision has been a bone of contention.
To address a long-pending demand, the bill also provides for establishment of separate Board of Auqaf for Bohras and Agakhanis; besides providing representation of Shias, Bohras, Agakhanis and backward Muslims in Waqf Boards.
Issuance of a ‘Waqf deed’ and certification will be mandatory for new properties under assessment.
The move comes amid strong opposition by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board which has threatened to launch a mass movement, and organisations like Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind.
At the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, opposition parties demanded that the legislation be sent to a parliamentary committee.
Sources said parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, also the minister of minority affairs, said the govt would take a decision on Thursday.
Interestingly, with the department-related standing committees not in place yet, the bill may be forwarded to a special committee in case govt accepts the opposition’s demand.