Non-Muslims and women will also be members of Waqf Board – ..

A controversial bill amending 44 sections of the Wakf Act, 1995 is likely to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. It is being said that after research, non-Muslim individuals and Muslim women will also be included in the central and state wakf units.
Apart from this, a bill to repeal the Waqf Act of 1923 will also be introduced. Even before the introduction of the bill, its copy has been given to the Lok Sabha members. According to reports, the government is going to introduce a bill in Parliament to amend the 1995 law to make the functioning of the Waqf Board more transparent and ensure mandatory participation of women in the institution. After research, the name of the Act will be changed to Integrated Waqf Management, Empowerment Efficiency and Development Act. A new law is coming for better management of Waqf properties. At present, many provisions of the Waqf Act give unlimited rights to the board. If a property is declared a Waqf property, then there is a provision that the owner of the property cannot challenge it even in the Supreme Court.
New proposals in the bill
There should be two women members in the Central Waqf Council and the State Waqf Board. The Central Council will now also include a Union Minister, three MPs, three representatives of Muslim organizations, three experts on Muslim law. It will also include two former judges, four nationally renowned personalities and senior officials of the Central Government. It will have at least two women members.
There are 30 Waqf Boards across the country
As per the amendment in the Waqf Act, 1995, it will be mandatory for the Waqf Board to do a genuine valuation of its properties and register them with the District Officer. There are 30 Waqf Boards in the country. According to sources, Waqf properties are expected to generate an annual income of Rs 200 crore. However, this estimate is not in line with the number of existing properties held by the Waqf Board.