'Waqf bill will correct wrongs, whole village was declared as Waqf property': Kiren Rijiju defends Waqf Bill

Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju defended the Waqf (Amendment) Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday amid severe opposition from various political parties. Rijiju emphasized that the bill does not interfere with the freedom of any religious body and argued that it aims to grant rights to those who have been historically denied them. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to redefine the powers of State Waqf Boards, address the registration and survey of waqf properties, and provide measures for the removal of encroachments. Additionally, Rijiju introduced the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, which intends to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act of 1923.

“With this bill, there is no interference in the freedom of any religious body. Forget about taking anyone's rights; this bill has been brought to give rights to those who never got them. This bill being brought today is based on the report of the Sachar committee (which called for reform) which you made (Congress),” Rijiju stated as he presented the bill for consideration in the lower house.



“Stop opposing this bill. This will go down in history, whoever has opposed it and whoever has supported it. So before opposing the bill, think about thousands of poor people, women, and children and respect them,” Rijiju added.

The proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to rename the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. The bill seeks to provide a clear definition of "waqf" as a waqf established by any person practicing Islam for at least five years and possessing ownership of the property. It also aims to ensure that the creation of Waqf-alal-aulad does not lead to the denial of inheritance rights to women.

Additionally, the bill proposes to remove section 40, which relates to the powers of the Board to decide if a property is waqf property. It mandates the filing of accounts of waqf by mutawallis to the Board through a central portal for better oversight of their activities. The legislation further seeks to reform the Tribunal structure with two members and provide a window for appeals against Tribunal orders to the High Court within ninety days.

The motion to introduce the bill sparked strong criticism from members of the opposition. NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule urged the government to either withdraw the bill completely or send it to a standing committee.

“Please do not push agendas without consultations,” Supriya Sule said in Lok Sabha.

RSP MP NK Premachandran warned that the bill may not withstand judicial scrutiny.

“If this law is put through judicial scrutiny, then it will be ‘struck down’,” NK Premachandran asserted in Lok Sabha.

Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav opposed the bill, hinting at a politically motivated strategy behind its introduction.

“This bill, which is being introduced, is being done under a well-thought-out political strategy. Speaker sir, I heard in the lobby that some of your rights are also going to be taken away, and we will have to fight for you. I oppose this bill,” Akhilesh Yadav stated.

Congress MP KC Venugopal labeled the bill as an “attack on the federal system”.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi contended that the bill violates several constitutional principles.

“This bill violates the principles of Articles 14, 15, and 25 of the Constitution,” Owaisi claimed.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 introduces significant changes to the current Waqf Act, with the aim of improving waqf property management and protecting inheritance rights. However, opposition members have raised concerns about its potential legal and constitutional implications. The debate on the bill continues, with both supporters and detractors voicing strong opinions in the Lok Sabha.