The Centre is all set to amend the Wakf Act to check indiscriminate misuse of property belonging to Muslims in the country.
NEW DELHI: The Centre is all set to amend the Wakf Act to check indiscriminate misuse of property belonging to Muslims in the country.
The ministry of minority affairs is giving finishing touches to the draft Wakf Amendment Act that places the state wakf boards under central monitoring and makes encroachment on their property an IPC offence. The proposed law also aims at checking corruption among wakf functionaries. There was resistance from state boards to any curtailment of their power, but they also wanted regulation of their functioning and checking of corruption.
Under the amended law, the Central Wakf Council can keep a watch on the working of state wakfs and send them directives if they don’t work as per law.
The amendment also underscores the need for extending lease period from three years to a ‘longer term’ so that builders take interest in development of wakf land.
Recently, the Joint Parliamentary Committee blamed state governments for neglecting Wakf institutions. Deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha, K Rahman Khan, who headed the committee, stressed on strengthening the Wakf Act for protection and development of properties under Wakf Board to overcome educational and economic backwardness of Muslims.
According to a report, Wakf Boards own three lakh properties, 70% encroached upon. North Indian states record the highest number of encroachments while just 39 of the 7,723 properties in Kerala are encroached. Gujarat is the only state where no Wakf property is encroached upon.
A central panel for minorities had suggested 5% cess on all Waqf property and use of the generated money to provide education to Muslim children.
b_rakesh@dnaindia.net
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