What is Waqf Board, why is there a ruckus about it now?
On Thursday, Minority Welfare Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf Board Amendment Bill. However, opposition parties are strongly opposing this bill. Muslim organizations say that the government is interfering in religion with this move. Congress is calling it a violation of the right to religious freedom. On the other hand, the government says that it wants to remove irregularities in Waqf properties. After the amendment, non-Muslim persons and Muslim women will also be able to join the central and state Waqf bodies. In such a situation, let's know
What is Waqf?
Before understanding about the Waqf Board, it is important for us to know what is Waqf? Waqf is an Arabic word. It means an object offered in the name of God or money given for charity. It includes movable and immovable property. Let us tell you that any Muslim can donate his property to Waqf. After being declared a Waqf, any property becomes non-transferable.
What is Waqf Board?
The Waqf Board manages the Waqf property. It is a legal entity. There is a Waqf Board in every state. Registration of properties with the Waqf Board is mandatory. The board registers, manages and protects the properties. The board has a chairman in the states. There are two types of Waqf Boards in the country, Shia and Sunni.
Who is a member of the Waqf Board?
The Waqf Board also has the right to file a case. Apart from the chairman, the board includes members of the state government, Muslim MLAs, MPs, members of the State Bar Council, Islamic scholars and the Mutawalli of the Waqf. The special thing is that their annual income should be one lakh rupees or more.
What does the board do?
Apart from managing the Waqf properties, the Board constructs and maintains educational institutions, mosques, graveyards and night shelters from the donations received in the Waqf.
What is Wakf Act 1954
The first Waqf Act in the country was made in 1954. Under this, the Waqf Board was also born. The purpose of this law was to simplify the work related to Waqf. This Act has provisions for claims and maintenance of Waqf property. The first amendment was made in 1955. A new Waqf Board Act was made in 1995. Under this, permission was given to form Waqf Board in every state/union territory. Later it was amended in the year 2013.
What is the Central Waqf Council?
The Central Wakf Council is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The Council was constituted in 1964 under the provisions of the Wakf Act 1954. It was established as an advisory body to the Central Government on matters relating to the functioning of Wakf Boards and Wakf administration. The Council has the authority to advise the Central Government, State Governments and State Wakf Boards. The Council is chaired by a Union Minister.
How much property does the Waqf Board have?
According to media reports, the Waqf Board has more than eight lakh acres of land in the country. In the year 2009, this land was four lakh acres. Most of these include mosques, madrasas, and graveyards. The estimated property value of the Waqf Board is Rs 1.2 lakh crore. There are a total of 32 Waqf Boards in the country, including two Shia Waqf Boards in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. After the Railways and the Defense Department, the Waqf Board has the most property in the country.
Why the controversy over Waqf?
There is a debate going on Section 40 of the Waqf Act. Under this, the board gets the power of reason to believe. If the board feels that a property is a Waqf property, then it can investigate it itself. If someone is living in that property, then he can register his objection in the Waqf Tribunal. Actually, if a property is declared a Waqf once, then it remains a Waqf forever. Due to this, many controversies have also come to the fore.
Major controversies
- In 2022, the Waqf Board of Tamil Nadu claimed the entire Thiruchendurai village inhabited by Hindus as Waqf.
- Bengaluru's Idgah ground dispute. It is being claimed to be Waqf property since 1950.
- Surat Municipal Corporation building is being claimed to be Waqf property. The argument is that it has been used as an inn during the Mughal period.
- Kolkata's Tollygunge Club, Royal Calcutta Golf Club and ITC Windsor Hotel in Bengaluru are also claimed to be on Waqf land.
The government argues that the current bill is linked to the Wakf Act of 1995. In this, the Wakf Board was given more powers. In 2013, it was amended and the board was given unlimited autonomy. The government says that the Wakf Board is under the control of mafias.
The government says that the amendment has not violated any article of the Constitution. This will benefit Muslim women and children. Owaisi called the government an enemy of Muslims. Congress called it a violation of the Constitution, while Mayawati said that the government should leave narrow politics and fulfill its national duty.
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