"Will not be tolerated": Congress' Naseem Khan on Centre's plans to amend Waqf Act

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 4 : After reports mentioned that the Centre is planning to amend the Waqf Board Act, Congress leader Naseem Khan on Sunday asserted that "Once a Waqf, always a Waqf", adding that it will not be tolerated.
"The rules of the Waqf Board are very clear. Once a Waqf, always Waqf. The current Waqf Act protects the properties of the Waqf. The Waqf properties can be used for the welfare of the Muslim community. If the central government is planning on intervening in the Waqf board by bringing amendments to the Waqf Act to exercise their right to Waqf properties, it will not be tolerated," Naseem Khan said.
The central government is considering making amendments to the Waqf Act which could restrict the power of the Waqf Board said sources. According to the sources, 32-40 amendments are being considered in the Waqf Board Act.
Waqf Act was first passed by Parliament in 1954. Subsequently, it was repealed and a new Waqf Act was passed in 1995 which gave more powers to Waqf Boards. In 2013, this Act was further amended to give far-reaching powers to the Waqf Board to designate property as 'Waqf Property'.
According to sources the proposed amendments are likely to make it mandatory for the Waqf Board to register its property in the District Collector's office so that the property can be evaluated.
"Muslims were asking why the government wasn't making amendments to the Waqf Board law. Only powerful people are involved in Waqf, not ordinary Muslims. There are questions about revenue, no one is allowed to measure how much revenue is generated, and there are allegations of corruption. Neither the state government nor the central government can intervene in Waqf properties. But after the amendment, the Waqf Board will have to register their property with the District Collector's office so that the property can be evaluated", the sources said.
The amendments also aim to enhance inclusivity by ensuring women's representation on the Central Waqf Council and state boards.
"Women will also be included in Waqf and counselling, which wasn't the case earlier. Now, appeals can be made in the high court against Waqf Board decisions, which was not possible earlier," said the source.
Reacting to it, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that the Government wanted to take away the autonomy of the Waqf Board.
"Firstly, when Parliament is in session, the central government is acting against parliamentary supremacy and privileges and informing the media and not informing Parliament. I can say that whatever has been written in the media about this proposed amendment shows that the Modi government wants to take away the autonomy of the Waqf Board and it wants to interfere. This itself is against the freedom of religion," he said.
Calling for a great need for improvement in the Waqf Board Act, BJP leader Shazia Ilmi on Sunday alleged corruption in the board and said that the need of the hour is to bring amendments in the Act.
Shazia said, "There is a great need for improvement in this. In our country, after Defence and Railways, the Waqf Board holds the most land. An Act was made in 1954 and amended in 1995, granting it unlimited powers. There are 8,50,000 properties registered under the board's name. Islamic countries like Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon do not have the concept of Waqf."
"There is so much corruption in it. The common Muslims are not benefiting from it; rather, only those who have usurped the land are. 77 per cent of Delhi's land is under the Waqf Board. Some people are operating like a mafia in this. There is an urgent need to curb corruption. There are 32 state Waqf boards and one central body under the government, but the way their selection is done leaves a lot of scope for corruption," Shazia added.
BJP leader Mohsin Raza said that if this bill is brought, he will welcome it.
"There are lakhs of Waqf properties across the country and people are not getting justice. They (Waqf Board) go beyond their powers and harass people. There are many such properties and many such issues which should come directly to the government. Waqf was created for the upliftment of backward Muslims and it has not been used properly, it has just been misused. So it is obvious that there is a need to take out the Waqf properties which have come under the control of a few people and the properties which have been registered in the boards illegally should also be taken out. This is a matter of public interest and it should be brought," Raza said.
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), member, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said that the government should consult and take the opinion of the stakeholders before making any amendments.
On the other hand, supporting the amendments, Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Chief Imam, All India Imam Organization said that it is the need of the hour to do amendment and there should be no politics over it.