“New initiative to curb corruption and bring transparency”
The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, passed in the Lok Sabha, aims to increase transparency and accountability in the management of Waqf properties. Lakhs of acres of land come under the Waqf Board in India, but over the years there have been allegations of misuse, corruption, and arbitrariness. This bill will help in curbing the arbitrariness of Waqf Boards, ensuring proper use of properties, and resolving legal disputes. However, some challenges may also arise, such as opposition from Waqf Boards and the effective implementation of the new mechanism.
If this law is implemented effectively, it will prove to be a significant step in reducing disputes related to Waqf properties and ensuring transparent administration.
Disputes and allegations of corruption related to Waqf properties in India have long been a topic of discussion. Lakhs of acres of land in the country come under the Waqf Board, which aims to use the properties for religious and social welfare works. However, over time it has been observed that the management of Waqf properties has not been completely transparent, and allegations of irregularities, corruption, and arbitrariness have surfaced in many cases.
The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, recently passed in the Lok Sabha, is expected to increase transparency in the management of Waqf properties and provide relief to common citizens, especially tenants who have been living in these properties for years or are facing legal disputes related to them.
Disputes and problems related to Waqf properties
In India, Waqf properties are managed under the Waqf Act 1995. Waqf boards formed under this law were given enormous powers to control the properties under their control. However, this management has led to many controversies due to a lack of transparency and arbitrary decisions. The legal powers that Waqf boards have have raised questions about their functioning in many places. According to reports, in many cases, Waqf board officials have made decisions such as arbitrarily leasing out properties, evicting possession, and selling properties without due process.
Thousands of tenants have been living in Waqf properties for decades. But many times, Waqf boards did not provide legal protection to old tenants but tried to evict them from the properties. In such cases, many families had to engage in legal battles, and in some cases, forced evictions were also seen. There have been complaints of large-scale corruption in the purchase, sale, and lease of Waqf properties. Several reports suggest that Waqf properties were sold at prices much below market value or handed over to political and business stakeholders without due process.
There were many ambiguities in the current Waqf law, which led to legal disputes. There was no clear legal process to resolve cases related to Waqf properties, due to which disputes remained pending, and it took years for the aggrieved party to get justice.
Waqf Amendment Bill 2024: What are the key changes?
The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, passed in the Lok Sabha, aims to make the management of Waqf properties transparent and accountable. It has been provided in this bill that monitoring of the functioning of the Waqf Board and government intervention will be increased so that misuse of properties can be prevented.
Under the amendment, old tenants will be given more legal protection so that they do not have to face forced eviction. New monitoring agencies will be created to bring transparency to the lease, sale, or transfer of Waqf properties. Apart from this, a digital recording of all deals and transparent auditing will be arranged. It is proposed to create a special tribunal to settle legal disputes related to Waqf properties. This will lead to quick resolution of cases, and common citizens will not have to wander in the courts for a long time.
Possible impact of the amendment bill
The implementation of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 will help resolve disputes related to Waqf properties in India and increase transparency. This amendment will ensure that there is no rigging in the management of Waqf properties and all transactions are made public. Under the new law, old tenants will get protection, and the process of their eviction will be brought within the legal ambit. The new monitoring and audit mechanism will prevent scams related to Waqf properties. Disputes related to Waqf properties can be resolved quickly through tribunals.
Potential Challenges
However, there may be some challenges in the effective implementation of this bill; some Waqf boards may oppose this amendment as it may impact their power and autonomy. It may take time to effectively implement the monitoring and auditing mechanism. There is a possibility that some groups may challenge this amendment in court, which may delay its implementation.
The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 is a big step toward making the management of Waqf properties in India transparent and equitable. If this law is implemented effectively, it will not only ensure the right use of Waqf properties but will also curb corruption.
However, it will be important to see how this law is implemented in practice and what kind of monitoring the government does on it. If all the provisions are implemented properly, then this bill will be able to give a new direction to the administration of Waqf properties.
