The Lok Sabha witnessed a heated debate on Wednesday because the Bharatiya Janata Occasion-led central authorities and the opposition sparred over the Waqf (Modification) Invoice, launched by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi criticised the proposed amendments, calling them an assault on the Structure’s fundamental construction. He accused the federal government of undermining constitutional safeguards, maligning minorities, and fostering societal divisions. In protection of the amendments, BJP chief Ravi Shankar Prasad argued that they had been important to stop misuse and unlawful occupation of Waqf properties. He asserted that many Waqf lands had been both mendacity vacant or being unlawfully taken over, necessitating regulatory intervention.
Understanding Waqf Properties in India
Waqf refers to belongings devoted solely to spiritual or charitable functions below Islamic legislation, with their sale or various use strictly prohibited. India has an enormous community of Waqf properties, together with non secular, industrial, and agricultural belongings.
In accordance with the Waqf Belongings Administration System of India, the nation has 872,324 immovable Waqf properties, making it one of many largest repositories of non secular and community-owned land globally. The breakdown consists of:
Graveyards: 150,516 properties (17%)
Mosques: 119,200 properties (14%)
Industrial institutions: 113,187 retailers and 92,505 homes
Agricultural land: 140,784 properties (16%)
Non secular websites (dargahs, mazars, and so on.): 33,492 properties
Waqf Properties Throughout India
Complete Waqf Properties: 872,324 throughout states and union territories
Uttar Pradesh Leads: With 232,547 properties (27% of the nationwide whole), UP has the very best Waqf holdings
Different Key States: West Bengal (80,480), Punjab (75,965), Tamil Nadu (66,092), and Karnataka (62,830)
Various Utilization: Moreover non secular websites, Waqf properties additionally embody 64,724 plots, 17,719 ashoorkhanas, and 14,008 madrasas
Key Amendments within the Waqf Invoice
The proposed amendments introduce stricter standards for Waqf declarations. Solely practising Muslims for at the least 5 years can dedicate property to Waqf, reverting to pre-2013 guidelines. Moreover, ladies should obtain their rightful inheritance earlier than any Waqf declaration, with safeguards for widows, divorced ladies, and orphans.
Challenges in Waqf Board Administration
Regardless of digitizing 330,000 information to enhance transparency, the Waqf Board continues to face governance points, mismanagement, and authorized disputes. One of many key challenges is the irrevocable nature of Waqf properties, resulting in extended authorized battles. Courts have questioned land claims, equivalent to these over two islands in Wager Dwarka, highlighting possession ambiguities. Moreover, encroachments, fraudulent registrations, and lack of coordination with income authorities additional complicate Waqf administration.
The continuing debate over the Waqf (Modification) Invoice displays the broader wrestle between regulatory oversight and spiritual property rights, with implications for governance and minority neighborhood pursuits in India.
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