Bill to check encroachment of Wakf properties gets Prez assent

A bill which seeks to check rampant encroachment of Wakf properties and make them commercially viable today got Presidential assent.
President gave his assent to the Wakf (Amendment) Bill, 2013, which aims at streamlining functioning of Wakf institutions and strengthen them, an official statement said.
With the Presidential assent, the Bill has come into force as an Act.
The Act aims at checking rampant encroachment of Wakf properties and to make them commercially viable by extending their lease period from merely three years to 30 years.
It also makes encroachment on Wakf properties a cognisable and non-bailable offence and provides for a maximum punishment of two years rigorous imprisonment.

It will also make the Wakf tribunals multi-member and give them additional powers of eviction and appeal.