New Delhi: Amanatullah Khan, the MLA of the AAP, expressed the concern that the Bill would curtail the existing rights of Muslims to manage their own religious and charitable institutions. The petition, so far facing opposition by other political parties such as Congress and Owaisi's, becomes the third to challenge the constitutional validity of the Bill as of now.
The Bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 relating to the properties of Waqf gifted and created for various religious or charitable purposes among Muslims. The opposition claims that the bills interfered with the religious and cultural autonomy of Muslims with an increase in government intervention in the management of the Waqf lands. The causes of their belief include fundamental rights regarding equality and freedom to manage their religion.
The Constitution overrides provisions that permit non-Muslim members within Waqf councils and state boards, which he and other critics argue are discriminatory toward Muslims. The Congress members Mohammad Jawed and Owaisi also condemned the Bill for placing restrictions upon Muslim institutions that are not placed on others, such as those under the Hindu Endowment and Jain Endowment boards.
Meanwhile, the government argues vigorously that the law will improve the transparency and interest of Muslim women. The BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad stated that the law will not interfere with the Waqf properties themselves but will hold accountable those in charge of the Waqf boards.
There were protests in Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad after its passage by the Lok Sabha, and the Bill is yet to receive the President's assent. The legal opposition is expected to postpone its enactment even further while intensifying debate around its implications for minority rights in India.
[Source Credit: NDTV]
