Poonam Nath

JPC advice; Union Cabinet approves the revised Waqf Bill - reports

Digital Desk: Reports emerge of the Union Cabinet accepting the revised Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which includes the proposed revisions.

A bipartisan parliamentary committee requested 23 modifications, and the Cabinet apparently approved 14 of them. These amendments affected the legislation that governs central and state Waqf boards, which manage Muslim charitable properties in India.

With the house returning on March 10th, the revised bill is expected to be tabled.

Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of Minority Affairs, introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Lok Sabha to alter the Waqf Act of 1995 and regulate the Waqf board's authority.

Moreover, the bill seeks to address regulatory concerns in India by rebranding the Act, updating Waqf definitions, improving registration, and leveraging technology for record-keeping.

However, according to News18, certain substantial revisions have been passed to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill-

1| Two Muslim women will continue to serve on the State Waqf Boards (Section 14) and the Central Waqf Council (Section 9) to promote Muslim women's empowerment and participation in waqf management.

2| One member of the Muslim OBC group will now serve on the State Waqf Boards.

3| The State Government may establish separate Waqf Boards for the Aghakhani and Bohra communities.

4| In family waqfs (Waqf Alal Aulad), women's inheritance rights are guaranteed. A waqif may only devote property if female heirs receive their fair portion.

Earlier on February 13th, opposition parties in the JCP claimed that dissent notes had been erased without their knowledge.

The government decided to restore some aspects of the JCP report by correcting Appendix V. The BJP is certain that the Bill will pass when voted on in the House.