Bill to amend Waqf law proposes sweeping changes, rename Act

Bill to amend Waqf law proposes sweeping changes, rename Act

Subject: Polity

Sec: Legislation in news

Context:

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, set for introduction in the Lok Sabha, also aims at renaming the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. A bill to amend the law governing Waqf boards has proposed far-reaching changes in the present Act, including ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies.

About New Bill:

• Introduced the ‘district collector’ in the Act and has given the post some powers to resolve disputes related to the Waqf Act.
• The draft Bill says that the word “Waqf” will be substituted with “Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development” in the principal act enacted in 1995.
• “Any government property identified or declared as Waqf property, before or after the commencement of this Act, shall not be deemed to be a Waqf property.
• The new Bill has also given powers to the district collectors to settle any disputes between the Waqf Board and the government and says: “If any question arises as to whether any such (identified as Waqf) property is a Government property, the same shall be referred to the Collector having jurisdiction who shall make such inquiry as he deems fit, and determine whether such property is a Government property or not and submit his report to the State Government.”
• In case the Collector determines the property to be a Government property, he shall make necessary corrections in revenue records and submit a report in this regard to the State Government.

Waqf Board Act:

• The Waqf Board Act was first enacted in 1954 and was later replaced by the Waqf Act of 1995.
• Legislative framework that regulates Waqf properties in India.
• Waqf properties are those that are donated for religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law. 
• The Waqf Boards Act provides provisions to manage and designate properties as Waqf and establish a Central Waqf Council for oversight. The act aims to protect the interests of the Muslim community by ensuring that Waqf properties are used for charitable and religious purposes. 
• The Waqf Board Amendment Bill 2024 seeks to introduce necessary changes to enhance its effectiveness while making the composition of boards more inclusive through revisions to Sections 9 and 14.