FPJ Dialogue: Former Maharashtra Minister Arif Naseem Khan on Waqf Board Challenges and Proposed Amendments
Mumbai: Waqf boards, India's third-largest owners of real estate, face immense challenges. Beset with litigations, demolitions, and public bias, they struggle to maintain control of their vast properties amid mounting legal battles.
Waqf BoardsReal EstateMaharashtraArif Naseem KhanWaqf ActAmendmentsReal Estate MaharashtraAug 08, 2024
In a meeting at The Free Press Journal office with the senior editorial team on Tuesday, former minority affairs minister of Maharashtra, Arif Naseem Khan, addressed these proposed amendments.
Khan emphasized the need for transparency and inclusive dialogue, stating, “We are not against amendments to the Waqf Act, but we demand transparency in the whole process.”
The proposed amendments include significant changes, such as ensuring representation of non-Muslim individuals and Muslim women in central and state Waqf bodies, and renaming the 1995 law as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act. One of the major changes is the omission of Section 40, which allows boards to classify properties, now shifting that authority to the District Collector.
Khan questioned the government’s approach, asking, “How can you arbitrarily introduce a bill without taking the community into confidence?” He asked whether key political allies of the BJP, Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party and Nitish Kumar of the JD(U), were consulted on these changes.
Additional proposed amendments include the requirement for the Central Waqf Council and state waqf boards to have two women on the board, the inclusion of non-Muslims in the council and boards, and mandatory notice and centralized registration of properties. The amendments also propose the establishment of a separate board for the Bohra and Agakhani communities and ensuring women’s inheritances.
“If the government’s intentions are clear, then get all the stakeholders into confidence. If they are trying to introduce these amendments through a backdoor legislation, then somewhere we feel the government has something to hide,” Khan said.
Information
The Waqf Act, 1995, is a law that governs the management and administration of Waqf properties in India. Waqf boards are responsible for managing these properties, which are estimated to be worth billions of rupees.
The Free Press Journal is a leading English-language daily newspaper in India, known for its in-depth coverage of news, politics, and social issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Waqf boards and what is their significance in India?
Waqf boards are responsible for managing Waqf properties in India, which are estimated to be worth billions of rupees. They are the third-largest owners of real estate in the country.
What are the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act?
The proposed amendments include ensuring representation of non-Muslim individuals and Muslim women in central and state Waqf bodies, renaming the 1995 law, and omitting Section 40, among others.
Why is the government’s approach to introducing these amendments being questioned?
The government’s approach is being questioned because it is seen as arbitrary and not transparent, with key stakeholders not being consulted.
What is the significance of the omission of Section 40 in the proposed amendments?
The omission of Section 40 shifts the authority to classify properties from the Waqf boards to the District Collector, which is seen as a significant change.
What is the government’s intention behind introducing these amendments?
The government’s intention is not clear, but it is suspected that they may be trying to introduce these amendments through backdoor legislation.
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