Waqf Amendment Bill 2024: How Government Properties Were Declared Waqf, and What's Changing
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju highlights shocking cases of government properties being declared Waqf, and proposes amendments to the Waqf Act.
Waqf Amendment Bill 2024Waqf PropertiesMinority Affairs Minister Kiren RijijuJoint Parliamentary CommitteeWaqf BoardsReal Estate MumbaiAug 08, 2024
The entire headquarters of the Surat Municipal Corporation, for instance, has been declared Waqf property. Rijiju questioned how this could happen, pointing out that a municipal corporation is not someone's private property.
In another case, a village in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli, with a 1500-year-old history, has been declared Waqf property. A poor villager who went to sell his 1.2 acres of land was told that his entire village is Waqf property.
Rijiju also spoke about a woman, Bushra Fatima, who lives in difficult conditions with her child. Under the current act, she would lose her entire property after her father's death, and it would go to Waqf. Rijiju argued that the government should intervene to ensure justice for her and her child.
The minister also referred to a case from the Bohra community, where a person from Gujarat filed a complaint with the Waqf board, stopping developmental work on a property in Mumbai.
In Karnataka, thousands of acres of land were used for commercial purposes, against the principle of Waqf. Waqf properties are meant to be used for religious, charitable, or pious purposes, but the Karnataka state waqf board was misusing it.
The current Waqf Act has been criticized for creating a method where tribunal judgments cannot be reviewed even by courts. Rijiju argued that no law should be above the Constitution.
When India was partitioned, Muslims who went to Pakistan had properties here, and Hindus who came to India had properties there. The Pakistani government took over the properties of Hindus who migrated, and Muslims here declared their properties as Waqf.
Rijiju proposed sending the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further deliberations.
The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 aims to address these issues and ensure justice for all. The bill proposes to remove the provision that allowed Waqf Boards to declare properties as Waqf without the owner's consent.
The bill also proposes to set up a tribunal to review the decisions of Waqf Boards, and to ensure that Waqf properties are used for their intended purposes.
The proposed amendments have been welcomed by some, but opposed by others. The opposition has argued that the bill is an attempt to undermine the rights of minorities.
However, Rijiju has argued that the bill is necessary to ensure justice for all, and to prevent the misuse of Waqf properties.
The debate over the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 is ongoing, with many arguing that it is a necessary step to address the issues plaguing the Waqf system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024?
The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 is a proposed law that aims to address issues related to Waqf properties in India.
What is a Waqf property?
A Waqf property is a property that has been declared as Waqf, meaning it is dedicated for religious, charitable, or pious purposes.
Why is the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 necessary?
The bill is necessary to address issues such as the misuse of Waqf properties, and to ensure justice for all, including minorities.
What are the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act?
The proposed amendments include removing the provision that allowed Waqf Boards to declare properties as Waqf without the owner's consent, and setting up a tribunal to review the decisions of Waqf Boards.
Who is opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024?
The opposition has argued that the bill is an attempt to undermine the rights of minorities.
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