What is waqb?
According to Islamic law, spiritual and charitable gifts by Muslims are classified as waqb. Assets designated as waqb are considered to be bequeathed to Allah in their name.
Minority Affairs Minister Kiran Rijiju tabled the Waqf Board Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. As opposition parties objected to this, the bill has been sent to a joint committee of Parliament. The Bill has been tabled today to amend some important aspects of the Waqf Board Act, 1995.
Edited Important Features
- Under the old law, such decisions were taken by the Waqf Tribunal. Allegations of expropriation and misuse of this power arose. After this a change is introduced and the District Collector can decide whether a property is a Wakpu Board property or a Government land.
- Earlier, the board itself could manage the assets. That is now, transparency has been brought in the management of assets by the Boards.
- No appeal can be made to the court against the decision of the Waqf Board, it can be appealed only to the Waqf Tribunal. Henceforth, the orders of the Waqf Board can be appealed to the Court.
- The Board itself had ownership of the property. It has been amended and it has been stated that the Board cannot claim the property.
- Women are not allowed in Central Waqf Council and State Wakf Boards. According to the new amendment, Muslim women and non-Muslims will be included in the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards.
- The property will be examined by the Waqf Tribunal itself. Now the properties can be inspected by the Survey Commissioner to the District Collector or the Deputy Collector appointed by the Collector.
- Till now there are 3 Muslim MPs in the Waqf Board Committee. As per the new rules, the group of 3 MPs will also include non-Muslims.
- While there was a situation where waqb properties could not be sold, now all properties should be registered through a common central platform.
- As per the new rules, the information about the waqb properties should be compiled while the board itself was managing the waqb properties.
- It used to be that revenue laws did not apply to registration of assets. At present, revenue laws have to be followed before the property can be registered.
- Earlier, there was no need to post information regarding income from Waqf Board properties. Henceforth, all revenue related information and its activities should be posted on the central platform.
- There was never a separate board for Boras and Akhakanis. They will be amended and a separate board will be set up for Boras and Akhakanis under the new rules. Waqf Boards include Sunnis, Shias, Boras, Akhaganis and backward sects of that religion.
