NEW DELHI – The Centre is likely to bring a bill soon in Parliament seeking several amendments to the Wakf Act, which may cut its powers to call any property its asset.
According to sources, the bill is likely to propose around 40 amendments to the Wakf Act. The sources also said that the bill was approved by the Union Cabinet on Friday. As per the sources, the bill proposes to repeal a few clauses of the Act primarily aimed at reducing the powers currently held by Waqf Boards.
Some of the key highlights of the bill include Amendments to Section 9 and Section 14 to alter the composition and functioning of the Waqf Boards to ensure representation for women; Properties claimed by Waqf Boards will undergo fresh verification to resolve disputes; Magistrates may be involved in the monitoring of waqf properties.
There are around 8.7 lakh properties under Waqf Boards across the country and the total land under these properties is around 9.4 lakh acres.
The Waqf Act was enacted in 1995 and regulates assets donated and notified as waqf by a wakif — the person who dedicates a property for purposes recognised by Muslim law as pious, religious, or charitable. -IANS
