For the past three days there has been a huge stir in Parliament regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill. It is now believed that this bill may be introduced in next year’s budget session. Meanwhile, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told Parliament that more than 58,000 Waqf Board properties across the country are currently under encroachment.
Replying to a question asked in Parliament, the Union Minister said, ‘As per the data available in the Waqf Property Management System of India (WAMSI), 58,929 Waqf properties are currently vulnerable to encroachment. Of these, 869 Waqf properties are located in Karnataka alone.
Buying and selling waqf properties is a crime
Kiren Rijiju said in Parliament: ‘The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State Waqf Board has the right to take legal action against illegal occupation and encroachment of Waqf properties. As per rules, Waqf properties cannot be sold. It cannot be given to anyone. The ownership of the Waqf cannot be transferred either.
Nishikant Dubey made this demand
Let us tell you that BJP MP Nishikant Dubey himself has proposed extending the tenure of the JPC. According to Dubey, the committee should submit its report in the first week of the budget session of Parliament. Now JPC president Jagdambika Pal will send this proposal to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Opposition leaders, especially AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, have also raised questions over the JPC’s working style and the provisions of the bill.
Why is there demand for change?
Let us tell you that in 2013, the powers of the Waqf Board were increased during the UPA government. Ordinary Muslims, poor Muslim women, children of divorced Muslim women, communities like Shias and Bohras had long been demanding changes in the law. These people said that today there is no place for ordinary Muslims in the Waqf. Only powerful people. There is a question about income. No one allows us to estimate how much income is obtained. When the income is recorded, it will be used only for Muslims. Currently there are 30 Waqf boards in the country. It is estimated that revenue of Rs 200 million will be generated every year from all Waqf properties.
What is the Modi government’s plan?
The Cabinet has approved around 40 amendments to the Waqf Law. The Modi government wants to limit the powers of the Waqf Board in the cabinet to convert any property into “Waqf property”. The objective of these amendments is to restrict the right of the Waqf Board to designate any property as “Waqf property”. Claims made on the properties will be compulsorily verified by the Waqf Board. After the amendment bill is passed, there will be a major change in the management and transfer of Waqf properties. Sources say the reasons for amending the law have also been mentioned. The recommendations of the Justice Sachar Commission and the Joint Committee of Parliament headed by K Rahman Khan have been cited in this.
