The Waqf Board
Context:
Recently, following a social media post made by one of the BJP’s MPs about a village in Vijayapura, tensions around Waqf Board intensified in the country.
- BJP claims the Waqf Board intends to reclaim lands poor farmers have cultivated for generations.
- The MP accused the board of attempting to seize 1,500 acres in Honawad village.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Government policies and interventions)
What is the Waqf?
- Meaning: According to Islamic law, waqf is a charitable endowment held in trust in the form of property donated by Muslims for a specific religious, charitable, or private purpose.
- It is believed that the ownership of the property belongs to God while its benefits are directed to the specified purposes.
- History: The concept of Waqf was active ever since the days of the Delhi Sultanate. Although it was criticised during the British Raj in the 19th century, the Mussalman Waqf Validating Act of 1913 upheld the Waqf system in India.
Waqf Bill 2024:
- The bill introduces multiple changes to the functioning of Waqf properties in India, overseen by the Central Waqf Council (CWC) and State Waqf Boards.
- The present structure mandates only Muslim members, but the new bill intends to reserve seats for non-Muslims in these bodies.
- The bill also suggests the removal of the statutory requirement that the Waqf Council Secretary and CEOs of the State Waqf Boards be Muslim.
- The bill also proposes the removal of experts on Muslim law from Waqf tribunals.
- Additionally, it has suggested changes on how Waqf properties should be identified, registered, and managed.
- Meanwhile, the bill plans to deregister older waqf properties that do not have original documents.
- It even has proposed stringent punishments for encroachers and those who do not abide by the new law.
