New Delhi: After the long hours of debate, the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha and now it is slated to be on the floor of the Rajya Sabha. The lead focus of the bill is to rationalize the functional structure of State waqf boards guarding Muslim charitable properties across the length and breadth of the country.
The government, however, finds the proposed bill very constructive in terms of bringing much-wanted efficiency and inclusivity, but some say it stands in necessity for minority rights. The issue of concern is lack of interest with respect to granting excess land or premises to Waqfs.
The word Waqf finds the Arabic origin suggesting "to hold"; these are charitable Muslim properties with ownership transferred to Allah. At present, Waqf boards of India manage over 9.4 lakh acres of land, indeed the second largest landowners after the Indian Railways. Despite these great immense possessions, the working of these boards is under fire due to encroachments on the prized lands, besides disputes that are left unresolved. Nearly 41,000 cases are lying in pending matters before tribunals.
The proposed amendments to the Waqf Act include that waqf property can be declared only by those individuals who have been Muslims for at least five years, a provision to do away with 'waqf by user,' and no government property will be named as waqf. Furthermore, the bill seeks to upgrade the constitution of Waqf boards, thus inducting non-Muslim representatives, which has been leading to apprehension among certain sections of the Muslim community.
With the dissent mainly led by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), there is a series of strong objections raised against the bill claiming a scapegoat for illegal government seizures of waqf property. Despite the opposition, some Muslim groups have openly welcomed the move, speaking of purity of intent toward ending the muddle in waqf.
Soon to be debated in the Rajya Sabha, the mere possibility of this much-debated bill's passage grows uncertain as protests continue.
[Source Credit: NDTV]
