Govt To Bring Bill To Crub Waqf Boards Power To Control Land: Reports
Mumbai: The Union government is set to introduce a bill in Parliament proposing several amendments to the Wakf Act, aiming to curb the extensive powers of the Waqf boards in declaring any land as its own property. According to a report by the Times of India, the bill, which includes around 40 amendments, was approved by the Union Cabinet on Friday.
The Wakf Act, initially enacted in 1954 and amended in 1995, governs the management of waqf properties, which are held for philanthropic, pious, or charitable purposes as recognized by Muslim law. The Act allows Waqf boards to independently investigate and determine the ownership of properties they believe belong to the Waqf. This power has enabled Waqf boards to become the third-largest landowners in India, following the Indian Armed Forces and the Railways, with their land holdings doubling since 2009.
Key amendments proposed in the draft legislation include restructuring the Waqf boards, altering their composition, and ensuring the verification of land before it is declared as Waqf property. Notably, the bill seeks to amend Sections 9 and 14 of the Wakf Act to change the composition of the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf boards, mandating representation for women in these bodies.
The Waqf boards currently possess significant autonomy in registering properties, a level of control not granted to other trusts, mutths, akharas, or societies. This proposed bill aims to balance this power by introducing checks on the boards’ ability to unilaterally declare properties as Waqf assets.
In June 2023, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Centre concerning 123 properties in the national capital that were being unlawfully claimed as Waqf properties.
This legal development has further highlighted the need for reforms in the Waqf Act to prevent misuse of its provisions.
The Union government’s proposed bill represents a significant effort to address these issues, ensuring greater accountability and transparency in the management of Waqf properties.
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