The Centre is preparing to introduce a bill in Parliament that aims to overhaul the Waqf Act. The bill will propose several significant amendments to the Act, including limiting the power of Waqf Board and increasing women’s representation.
Sources indicate that the bill, which was approved by the Union Cabinet on Friday, will include around 40 amendments to the Waqf Act. The proposed changes aim to curb the Waqf Boards’ ability to claim any property as its asset without proper scrutiny. The bill seeks to address concerns about the arbitrary powers of the boards, which have led to disputes. For example, in September 2022, the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board claimed ownership of Thiruchendurai village, a predominantly Hindu area, causing controversy.
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The new legislation will focus on ending the Waqf Boards’ unchecked authority. Key features of the bill include mandatory property verification to increase transparency. Government will make amendments to Section 9 and Section 14 to change the composition and functioning of the Waqf Boards. The bill also proposes that all properties claimed by the Waqf Boards undergo fresh verification to resolve existing disputes. Additionally, magistrates may be involved in overseeing Waqf properties.
The call for changes to the Waqf Act comes from Muslim intellectuals, women, and various sects, including Shia and Bohra communities.
Currently, there are about 8.7 lakh properties under Waqf Boards across India, covering around 9.4 lakh acres. The Waqf Act, enacted in 1995, governs assets dedicated for pious, religious, or charitable purposes under Muslim law. Previous amendments during the UPA-2 era granted additional powers to the Waqf Boards, making it difficult to reclaim land from their control. The new bill aims to address these issues and government will introduce it in Parliament soon.
