Reports suggest that the Union cabinet has given its approval to the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, based on the basis of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report which was tabled in Parliament on February 13. Among the 23 changes proposed by joint parliamentary committee, the Cabinet accepted 14 changes. The amended bill will now likely be tabled when the House reconvenes March 10.
In an aim to regulate central and state Waqf boards, The Waqf (Amendment) Bill had proposed 44 changes which manage Muslim charitable properties in India. The report was tabled in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during the first half of the 2025 Budget Session in Parliament amid uproar by the opposition, leading to brief adjournments of proceedings in both the Houses.
The JPC had presented its report on February 13, in which too there was controversy after opposition MPs on the panel said sections of their dissent notes had vanished from the submitted document.
The centre denied the accusation but said the JPC boss, the ruling BJP’s Jagadambika Pal, had the discretion to remove sections casting ‘aspersions’ on the committee. However, following a meeting between Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and protesting opposition MPs, it was decided the dissent notes would be included in their original (and entire) form.
Submission of the JPC’s report was after a prolonged fight between the opposition and the BJP over the committee’s functioning, with Mr Pal accused of bias and rushing the bill without proper consultation.
What is Waqf Bill?
Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha last year, aiming to reshape the powers of the Waqf Board. However, the move sparked objections from opposition parties, who raised concerns over its implications.
According to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the bill seeks to address challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties by amending the Waqf Act, 1995. The government argues that these changes are necessary to streamline the administration of Waqf assets and resolve long-standing issues.
What Are Key Changes To The Bill?
According to a News18 report, the following changes have been approved
1) Two Muslim women will continue to be included as members in both the State Waqf Boards (Section 14) and the Central Waqf Council (Section 9) to ensure Muslim women’s empowerment and participation in waqf management
2) The state Waqf Boards will now include one member from the Muslim OBC community
3) The state Government may establish separate Waqf Boards for Aghakhani and Bohra communities
4) In Waqf Alal Aulad (family waqfs), women’s inheritance rights will be safeguarded. A waqif can dedicate property only after ensuring that female heirs receive their rightful share
How many properties does the Waqf Board control?
India holds the largest Waqf assets in the world, with Waqf Boards managing an incredible 8.7 lakh properties spread across 9.4 lakh acres of land. The estimated value of these properties stands at a massive ₹1.2 lakh crore.
Surprisingly, the Waqf Board is the third-largest landowner in India, following the Indian Armed Forces and Indian Railways. These vast holdings play a significant role in supporting religious, social, and community welfare initiatives across the country.
