New Delhi: The Modi government is preparing to introduce an amendment to the Waqf Act in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament on August 5, 2024. This move aims to address issues arising from the Waqf Boards' claims on properties and to curb their powers.
According to sources, the Cabinet approved around 40 amendments to the Waqf Act on August 2. These amendments seek to limit the Waqf Boards' ability to declare properties as 'Waqf property,' which has often led to disputes and conflicting legal situations. The government is focused on ending what it views as the misuse of authority by the Waqf Boards. The proposed amendments will mandate verification of any claims made by Waqf Boards on properties, including disputed ones. This measure is expected to help prevent disputes and control claims on government lands and other properties.
The significance of August 5 is highlighted by past events: in 2019, the Modi government introduced the bill to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir on this date, and in 2020, the Bhoomi Pujan for the Ram temple in Ayodhya was performed. Currently, the Waqf Boards manage approximately 8.7 lakh properties covering around 9.4 lakh acres. The central government has noted delays in property surveys and misuse of power by Waqf Boards in various states. As part of the proposed changes, district magistrates might be involved in monitoring these properties, and appeals against Waqf Board decisions will be limited to the court with no specific time frame for resolution.
The Waqf Act of 1954, originally passed during Jawaharlal Nehru's tenure, has been amended multiple times, including a 2013 amendment by the Congress-led UPA government that expanded the rights of Waqf Boards. Waqf, meaning "dedication of property for public welfare" in Arabic, refers to property donated for the benefit of Muslims or the propagation of Islam.
Recent controversies include the Waqf Board's claim in September 2022 over an entire village in Tamil Nadu, where it declared all village lands as Waqf property. This claim was discovered when a local resident tried to sell his land. In April 2024, the Telangana Waqf Board declared the Marriott Hotel in Hyderabad as Waqf property, but the High Court ruled against this claim.
The upcoming amendment aims to address such issues and ensure that Waqf Boards operate within more regulated boundaries.
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