How many Waqf properties are there in the country?
What Is The Waqf Amendment Bill: Waqf is any movable or immovable property that can be given by anybody believing in Islam for religious needs. This donated property does not belong to any individual. The donated property is considered to be owned by Allah. But a few institutions have been established to administer it.
How can Waqf be done?
Various ways of giving Waqf are possible. For example, if a person has more than one house and he wants to make one of them a Waqf, then he can write in his will about donating one house for Waqf. In such a situation, the family of the person concerned will not be able to use that house after his death. The institution that manages the Waqf property will utilize it for social work in the future. Likewise, from share to house, house, book to cash, anything can be Waqf. Any Muslim individual who is more than 18 years of age can make any property in his name a Waqf. His family members or any other individual cannot claim the Waqf property.
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What is the name of the official who deals with the Waqf property?
There are Waqf Boards to take care of Waqf property. These are established at local and state levels. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar states also have distinct Shia and Sunni Waqf Boards. Waqf boards established at the state level look after such Waqf properties. Repair of properties, revenue from them etc. is looked after. At the national level, the Central Waqf Council looks after providing directions to the Waqf Boards of the states. Cemeteries constructed throughout the nation are Waqf land. All the cemeteries of the nation are looked after by Waqf. There
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are approximately 30 organizations that are already set up throughout the country and administer Waqf properties within that state or union territory. They are referred to as Waqf Boards. In India, there are 30 Waqf Boards, the majority of which have their head offices in the capitals of the states.
Every Waqf board works under Waqf Act 1995. Waqf boards are related to Muslim’s religious, social and economic life, says the Indian Waqf Asset Management System. Not only Waqf boards are assisting mosques, dargahs, graveyards, etc., but also many are assisting schools, colleges, hospitals, dispensaries and Musafirkhanas for social welfare.
How much property do Waqf Boards possess?
Total Waqf properties in the country are 3,56,047 according to the Indian Waqf Asset Management System (WAMSI). The number of immovable properties in them is 8,72,324 and movable properties is 16,713. The number of digital records is 3,29,995.
What is the Waqf Amendment Bill brought by the government?
There was talk for the last few days that the government might bring a bill concerning an amendment to the Waqf Board in Parliament. Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju placed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Muslim Waqf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha on August 8. It was, however, subsequently referred to the JPC.
The bill discusses extensive amendments to the existing Act. This also involves representation of Muslim women at the Central and State Waqf Boards. In addition to this, members of any religion are permitted in its committees. The Act was amended for the last time in 2013.
What does the government say regarding the bill?
When the bill was tabled in August, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the Waqf Amendment Bill had been introduced on the basis of the Sachar Committee recommendations. It states that there must be two women members in the state and central Waqf Board. We have introduced this bill to give effect to the recommendations contained in it. Whatever provisions are there in this bill, no article of the Constitution has been violated. Forget about snatching someone’s right, this bill has been introduced to provide rights to those who have not received their rights so far. He stated that many amendments have been introduced previously as well. The 1995 amendments were rendered ineffective by the amendments introduced in 2013, and hence this bill must be introduced. The Waqf Amendment Bill 1995 has been utterly ineffective. That is why the amendment must be introduced. Rijiju informed the opposition that if you back this bill, you will receive blessings from crores of people. Some individuals have taken control of the Wakf Board. This bill has been introduced to set right the wrong that the common Muslims did not receive.
Where did Waqf start in India?
In India, the origin of Waqf is traced back to the early years of the Delhi Sultanate. Sultan Muizuddin Sam Gaur donated two villages to the Jama Masjid of Multan and transferred its management to Sheikhul Islam. With the flourishing of the Delhi Sultanate and subsequent Islamic dynasties in India, Waqf properties in India rose in number.
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The issue of repealing waqf in India was brought up during the late 19th century when a waqf property dispute reached the Privy Council in London during the British Raj days.
The four British judges who presided over the case referred to waqf as the worst and most evil system and held waqf as invalid. The four judges’ decision, however, was not accepted in India. The Muslim Waqf Validation Act of 1913 rescued the institution of waqf in India. No effort has been made to restrict waqf since then. Does every Islamic nation have Waqf properties?
No, not all Islamic countries have Waqf properties. Islamic countries like Turkey, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Tunisia and Iraq do not possess Waqfs. In India, however, Waqf boards are not only the biggest town landholders, but they also possess an act legally safeguarding them.
How many properties does the Waqf Board own?
The Waqf Board now manages 8.7 lakh properties covering 9.4 lakh acres in India, worth an estimated Rs 1.2 lakh crore. India boasts the biggest Waqf holdings worldwide. Furthermore, the Waqf Board is the second largest landholder in India, only after the defence forces and Indian Railways.
When was the Waqf Act passed for the first time?
After the country got independence, the Waqf Act was passed for the first time by the Parliament in the year 1954. In the year 1995, it was replaced by a new Waqf Act. The Waqf Act was amended in the year 2013.
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