Bill To Amend Waqf Board Act: The central government has proposed to reform the Waqf Board, sources revealed on Sunday. The Waqf Board Amendment Act recommends including women members as a part of the Board. According to the bill, two women shall be appointed in all states and central council. Presently, there are no women members of the Waqf Board or councils. Waqf Board manages and protects mosques and Islamic religious endowments.
A total of 40 amendments are expected in the existing Waqf Act. The proposal has been made to stop on the power of the Waqf to claim any land as it property or take possession on it. The bill is facing strong opposition.
“Once the land goes to Waqf, you can not reverse it. Powerful Muslims have captured the Waqf Board and only those who are controlling the Waqf Boards are against the Waqf Board Act”, said a government source who wished to remain unnamed.
The government sources also argue that the Sachar Committee (which studies the socio-economic conditions of Muslims in India) has stated that there should be transparency in the board.
The proposed bill to curb the ‘unfettered’ powers of Waqf boards has invited criticism from Muslim clerics and political leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi. Owaisi claimed that the BJP has been against Waqf boards and Waqf properties “from the beginning” and is trying to eliminate them as part of its ‘Hindutva agenda”.
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