'Why didn't they talk to us? Without consulting they presented it': Shia cleric on Waqf (Amendment) Bill

NEW DELHI: Calling for a deep discussion before presenting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, Shia cleric Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad said on Sunday that the government should have talked to the Maulanas and Ulemas so that awareness could be spread.

"Why didn't they, while making the Waqf act- try to meet us? They should have talked to the Maulana and Ulema. Why didn't they talk to us? Without consulting us they presented it. Awareness needs to spread since people do not know what loss they will have to face if the act is brought," he said.

The government introduced the bill in the budget session of Parliament which concluded earlier this month and it was decided to send the legislation to JPC for further scrutiny.

The first meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 will be held on August 22 in the Parliament House Annexe in the national capital.

The committee is chaired by BJP member Jagdambika Pal.

The parliamentary committee examining the bill has 21 members from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Waqf Act provides for renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

It seeks to clearly define "waqf" as waqf by any person practising Islam for at least five years and having ownership of such property and ensure that the creation of Waqf-alal-aulad does not lead to the denial of inheritance rights to women.

The bill seeks to provide for the establishment of a separate Board of Auqaf for Boharas and Aghakhanis.

The bill seeks to omit section 40 relating to the powers of the Board to decide if a property is waqf property, provide for filing of accounts of waqf by mutawallis to the Board through a central portal for better control over their activities, reform the Tribunal structure with two members and provide for appeals against the orders of the Tribunal to the High Court within a specified period of ninety days.

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