Waqf Act Amendment Bill, 2024
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is set to present the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. This proposed legislation intends to rename the Waqf Act, 1995, to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995. The bill aims to provide a precise definition of "waqf," ensuring it encompasses properties held by Muslims for a minimum of five years. Additionally, it addresses the issue of Waqf-alal-aulad to safeguard women's inheritance rights.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to amend the existing law governing Waqf boards and rename the Waqf Act of 1995, is scheduled for introduction in Parliament today. This important legislative proposal is a key item in the ongoing monsoon session. In a recent meeting, leaders from Congress, NCP-SCP, Samajwadi Party, and Trinamool Congress expressed their opposition to the direct introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. They urged that the bill be referred to a parliamentary committee for comprehensive review and consultation.
