The central government is all set to introduce an amendment bill to the Waqf Act of 1995 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, which is expected to raise a controversy. The proposed changes sought to improve the representation of non-Muslims and Muslim ladies in the central and state waqf boards.
It will be recalled that the āUnified Waqf Management and Administration Act of 1995ā will be known as the āUnified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Actā in the future. The main objective is to enhance the administration of Waqf properties, which are land or assets legally devoted to religious or humanitarian functions under Shariah law.
Some of the modifications are that one section that enables the Waqf Board to categorise its own properties has been left out. However, the District Collector will make such a decision. The amendments also require that there should be at least two women representatives on the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards.
However, it remains in the reaction from the side of the opposition and the Waqf Boards of India, which it will come across. The Tamil Nadu Waqf Board chief has described the changes as deliberately āunderminingā and āsabotagingā such boards.
The government has denied such claims, claiming that the intention is to liberate Muslim women and children who āāsufferedāā under the former law. The bitter change in part of the Waqf Act will be discussed in Lok Sabha.
