The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, incorporating changes recommended by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), sources reported on Thursday. The bill, which seeks to amend the laws governing central and state Waqf boards, will be tabled for discussion and passage in the second half of the budget session, scheduled from March 10 to April 4. The first part of the session took place from January 31 to February 13.
The Cabinet approved 14 alterations made by the JPC during a meeting on February 19. The bill includes 44 proposed changes, which have sparked protests from opposition parties. One of the key changes involves the nomination of non-Muslim and at least two women members to the Waqf Boards. This provision has led to strong opposition, with all 10 MPs from opposition parties dissenting.
The government said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to improve the administration and management of Waqf properties in India. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Minister of Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, in August 2024. After protests, the bill was referred to the JPC, which adopted the report with a majority vote.
Notable amendments to the Bill include renaming it as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill. The bill also proposes to include one member from the Muslim OBC community on the State Waqf Boards, changes in women’s inheritance rights, and upload all Waqf property details to a central portal within six months.
On August 8, 2024, the government introduced two bills in the Lok Sabha: the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill seeks to address issues in regulating and managing Waqf properties by amending the Waqf Act of 1995. Key changes include improving the registration process and enhancing the role of technology in managing Waqf records.
The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill aims to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act of 1923, a colonial-era law, to bring “transparency and uniformity” to the management of Waqf properties in modern India.
