Saurabh Mukherjee
Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday (August 8) introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha. The bill proposes approximately 40 amendments to the existing Waqf Act, 1995 (as amended in 2013).
Following an intense debate where several INDIA Bloc MPs labelled the Bill as ‘divisive’, ‘anti-Muslim’, and ‘unconstitutional’, the House finally agreed to refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further scrutiny, as proposed by the Minister.
The Bill proposes significant changes to the 1995 Waqf Act, including the inclusion of Muslim women on Waqf boards and the requirement for verification of land before a board designates it as Waqf property.
One of the most controversial aspects of the bill is the inclusion of non-Muslims in the central Waqf council, state Waqf boards, and Waqf tribunals. The bill proposes a more “broad-based” composition for these bodies, featuring representation from various Muslim communities as well as non-Muslims.
The bill also seeks to redefine "Waqf" claiming to ensure that only lawful property owners who have practiced Islam for at least five years can create Waqf through formal deeds.
The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has termed these changes as 'unacceptable,' while parties in the INDIA Bloc have stated their intention to oppose any alterations to the Waqf Act.
Several opposition members voiced concerns about the potential impact of the bill on the federal structure and its perceived encroachment on religious autonomy, Hindustan Times reported.
Congress MP KC Venugopal described it as an "attack on the federal system," while AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the bill violates Articles 14, 15, and 25 of the Constitution.
NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule called for the bill to be either withdrawn or sent to a standing committee for further review. Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP NK Premachandran warned that the bill could be struck down if subjected to judicial scrutiny.
Following an intense debate where several INDIA Bloc MPs labelled the Bill as ‘divisive’, ‘anti-Muslim’, and ‘unconstitutional’, the House finally agreed to refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further scrutiny, as proposed by the Minister.
The Bill proposes significant changes to the 1995 Waqf Act, including the inclusion of Muslim women on Waqf boards and the requirement for verification of land before a board designates it as Waqf property.
One of the most controversial aspects of the bill is the inclusion of non-Muslims in the central Waqf council, state Waqf boards, and Waqf tribunals. The bill proposes a more “broad-based” composition for these bodies, featuring representation from various Muslim communities as well as non-Muslims.
The bill also seeks to redefine "Waqf" claiming to ensure that only lawful property owners who have practiced Islam for at least five years can create Waqf through formal deeds.
The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has termed these changes as 'unacceptable,' while parties in the INDIA Bloc have stated their intention to oppose any alterations to the Waqf Act.
Several opposition members voiced concerns about the potential impact of the bill on the federal structure and its perceived encroachment on religious autonomy, Hindustan Times reported.
Congress MP KC Venugopal described it as an "attack on the federal system," while AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the bill violates Articles 14, 15, and 25 of the Constitution.
NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule called for the bill to be either withdrawn or sent to a standing committee for further review. Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP NK Premachandran warned that the bill could be struck down if subjected to judicial scrutiny.
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