New Delhi: The Waqf Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August of last year and aims to make 44 controversial changes to the management of Muslim charitable estates throughout the nation, has had 14 amendments approved by a joint parliamentary committee.MPs from the opposition offered forty-four recommendations to change the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, while 23 from the ruling BJP and its allies were rejected.
The 14 changes include differentiating between nominated ex-officio members (Muslim or non-Muslim) and the two non-Muslim members that were required, as stated in the bill’s original form.This means that at least two, and perhaps more (if the nominated ex-officio members are also not Muslims), non-Muslims will be present on waqf councils, whether they are state or national in scope.
Directing an officer designated by the relevant state to ascertain whether a property is “waqf” is another significant development. This choice was left up to the District Collector in the original proposal.A third modification is stating that, as long as the property in question is already registered, the legislation will not apply retroactively. Up until now, Congressman and JPC member Imran Masood has voiced concerns, pointing out that an estimated 90% of waqf assets are really unregistered.
