Government Proposes Bill to Amend Wakf Act for Greater Transparency

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that a bill to amend the Wakf Act, 1995 will soon be tabled in Parliament to make the regulation of waqf properties more transparent and efficient. This follows continuous demands from common Muslims. The bill was recently approved by the Union Cabinet.

The government is set to table a bill in Parliament aimed at amending the Wakf Act, 1995. Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju disclosed that the proposed changes follow persistent demands and representations from common Muslims to make the management of waqf properties more transparent and efficient.

Speaking briefly with reporters, Rijiju refrained from commenting directly on the bill, which was recently approved by the Union Cabinet but has yet to be introduced in Parliament.

"For a long time, there have been continuous demands and representations from the poor and common Muslims, including women, to make waqf properties more transparent and efficient," said Rijiju.

The new amendments will require waqf boards to register their properties with district collectors to ensure accurate valuations. Currently, there are 30 waqf boards in the country. Revenue generated by all waqf properties is estimated at Rs 200 crore per annum, a figure that sources say does not align with the substantial number of properties held by these boards.

(With inputs from agencies.)