Asaduddin Owaisi, chief of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), on September 2 criticised the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and called for a nationwide protest against the proposed legislation.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which provides for renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995 as Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995, has been sent to the Joint Parliament Committee (JPC) for consideration despite protests from opposition parties.
Addressing a protest meeting against the bill on September 2, the AIMIM leader said the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has decided to organise a nationwide protest.
“We are gathered here today on behalf of AIMPLB regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 brought by the Modi government. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has decided to launch a nationwide protest and create awareness about how this bill is against the Constitution…,” the AIMIM leader said.
AIMPLB, a high body of Islamic clerics, has called for withdrawal of the bill, terming it a “conspiracy”.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Waqf Act, provides for change of name of the Waqf Act, 1995, to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
The aim is to clearly define “Waqf” as Waqf held by any person who has been practicing Islam for at least five years and owns such property. It also aims to ensure that the establishment of Waqf-alal-aulad does not lead to the denial of inheritance rights to women.
The bill seeks to delete Section 40, which deals with the powers of the board to decide whether a property is Waqf property. It also provides for submission of Waqf accounts by Mutawallis to the board through a central portal, so that their activities can be better monitored. It also reforms the structure of the tribunal to two members and provides for appeal against the orders of the tribunal to the Supreme Court within a specified period of ninety days.
The bill also seeks to establish a separate council of Auqaf for the Boharas and Aghakhanis.
On August 30, the second meeting of the JPC chaired by MP Jagadambika Pal was held at the Parliament House Annexe. The committee had summoned the All India Sunni Jamiyatul Ulama, Mumbai, the Delhi-based Indian Muslims for Civil Rights, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board and the Rajasthan Board of Muslim Waqf to submit their views.
According to the sources, the Muslim organisations pointed out many clauses in the bill which are a concern for Muslims. Sources said that ‘Waqf by users’ was the main topic of heated discussions during the meeting. The Muslim side expressed its concern and said that it is a matter of religious belief and practice. So the government should not interfere in this.
The JPC has also sought views and suggestions from the public, NGOs, experts, stakeholders and institutions, as per a press release issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat.