Parliament Panel On Waqf Circulates Draft Report. Opposition Says “Farce”

New Delhi:

The parliamentary panel reviewing the Waqf invoice circulated a 655-page report at the moment, incorporating all of the adjustments urged by its members. The Opposition, although, has alleged that none of its amendments have been integrated.

Amid fears that the present Waqf properties will likely be topic to scrutiny after the amended legislation comes into pressure, the committee has advisable that no circumstances will likely be reopened towards such properties on a retrospective foundation, supplied the asset just isn’t in dispute or belongs to the federal government.

The committee has accepted 14 amendments, which have been urged by members of the BJP or its allies.

The invoice proposes quite a few adjustments to the best way Waqf boards are administered, together with nominating non-Muslim and (not less than two) ladies members.

The invoice additionally has a provision that claims the central Waqf Council should embody a union minister and three MPs, two ex-judges, 4 folks of ‘nationwide reputation’, and senior authorities officers, none of whom want be from the Islamic religion.

Additional, below the brand new guidelines the Waqf Council cannot declare land.

The Opposition leaders have additionally criticised the committee alleging a really quick time has been allowed for learning the draft report.

The committee chaired by BJP chief Jagdambika Pal is predicted to undertake the report on Wednesday.

“The parliamentary committee on Waqf Invoice has been diminished to a farce. We had been informed that the draft report of the committee and its invoice will likely be mentioned tomorrow at 10 am. It’s a 655-page report which has been despatched to us simply now,” mentioned DMK chief A Raja.

Mr Raja mentioned the MPs are anticipated to undergo it, present feedback and submit dissent notes.

“That is merely not potential. What’s the level of an unbiased parliamentary committee if the federal government does because it pleases anyway,” the previous Union minister requested.

Key Provisions of the Waqf Modification Invoice, 2025

• Two Muslim ladies will proceed to be included as members in each the State Waqf Boards (Part 14) and the Central Waqf Council (Part 9) to make sure Muslim ladies’s empowerment and participation in waqf administration.
•    The State Waqf Boards will now embody one member from the Muslim OBC group, guaranteeing broader illustration (Part 14).
•    The State Authorities might set up separate Waqf Boards for Aghakhani and Bohra communities, acknowledging their distinct non secular wants (Part 13).
•    In Waqf Alal Aulad (household waqfs), ladies’s inheritance rights will likely be safeguarded. A waqif can dedicate property solely after guaranteeing that feminine heirs obtain their rightful share (Part 3A(2)).
•    Registered Waqf by Person will proceed to be acknowledged as waqf, besides in circumstances the place the property is below dispute or owned by the federal government (Part 3(r)).
•   The Limitation Act will apply to all waqf-related circumstances from the graduation of this Act, guaranteeing well timed decision and stopping extended litigation (Part 107).
•   The net registration course of will likely be launched to automate your entire life cycle of waqf properties by way of the portal.
•    Waqf Boards should add all waqf property particulars on a central portal inside six months. The Waqf Tribunal might grant extensions on a case-by-case foundation.
•    If a authorities property is claimed as waqf, an officer above the rank of Collector, notified by the State Authorities, will conduct an inquiry as per the legislation. Till the report is submitted, such authorities properties is not going to be handled as waqf (Part 3C).
•   Muslim trusts that operate equally to waqf however are ruled by belief legal guidelines will likely be excluded from the Waqf Act, 1995, stopping authorized conflicts (Part 2A).
•   The revenue from Waqf Alal Aulad can be utilized to help widows, divorced ladies, and orphans, if specified by the waqif (Part 3(r)(iv)).
•   The finality of tribunal selections has been eliminated. Any aggrieved particular person can now attraction to the Excessive Courtroom inside ninety days of the tribunal’s determination.
•   On-line registration certificates of waqf properties will likely be issued by way of the portal.