What is the Waqf Board Bill? What are the amendments proposed?

The Indian central government is preparing to submit a bill to parliament. The bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 to improve the transparency and functioning of Waqf Boards. The bill also intends to require the inclusion of women in the body. The initiative is reportedly a response to demands from within the Muslim community.

Recently, the Cabinet considered the bill. Its purpose is to repeal various provisions of the Waft Act. The specific purpose of the amendments is to reduce the arbitrary powers of the Waqf Board. Currently, certain provisions in the Act allow them to claim any property as Waqf without any mandatory verification.

Important Revisions

The bill proposes more than 40 amendments to the existing Waqf Act. One of the amendments is that the Waqf Committee will need to conduct mandatory verification of all property claims to maintain transparency. Another important goal is to amend Sections 9 and 14 to change the functioning and composition of the Waqf Committee. One of the amendments is to increase the representation of women.

In addition, properties claimed by Wakf committees will be newly verified to manage disputes and avoid abuse.

The legislation comes amid huge concerns about the arbitrary powers of the Waqf Board, which have led to large tracts of land being deemed as Waqf property, often leading to allegations of abuse and disputes.

Understanding the Waqf Act 1995

The Waqf Act of 1995 regulates the “donations” of Waqf. Donations refer to assets that are donated as Waqf, while Waqf is the person responsible for donating property for religious, charitable or pious purposes as recognized by Muslim law.

The amendments introduced by the United Progressive Alliance government in 2013 gave wider powers to the Waqf Board.

The bill, which is likely to be submitted to parliament in the coming days, would change the management and regulation of Waqf properties in the country if passed, in line with other Islamic countries that do not grant such powers to a single entity.

Many representatives from Muslim sects, women and intellectuals stressed the need to amend the existing laws.

A preliminary review of the laws of Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman shows that these countries do not grant such significant powers to a single entity.