Wakf Board Amendment Bill to be taken up in winter session

"The Wakf Board Amendment Bill will be tabled in Parliament during the Winter Session. Some of the provisions in the proposed Bill include directive powers to the Central Wakf Council and penal provisions against encroachment," Minorities Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan said here today.

The Bill was first introduced in Parliament in 2010. After facing stiff opposition from various Muslim organisations, it was referred to Select Committee of Rajya Sabha.

"The Committee invited suggestions from various bodies and suggested changes which have now been incorporated in the new Bill," Rahman said.

The Bill also proposes setting up a tribunal to solve issues between Centre and states over disputes on Wakf properties and their management, Khan told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of State Wakf Boards.

"Wakf is a subject under concurrent list and both states and the Centre can make their own laws. Keeping in mind the fact that there could be differences of opinion between the Centre and the states on various issues, the new Bill proposes a permanent tribunal to solve these," he said.

On penal provisions against encroachment, Rahman said around 50 per cent of Wakf land is facing encroachment of some kind or other.

"Wakf boards in the country collectively own land over 4 lakh acres but around 50 per cent of this property is under some kind of encroachment. The new bill proposes to make encroachment a congnisable offence," he said.

Hoping that the Bill will ensure a better management of Wakf lands, he said, "There is a need to ensure development of Wakf properties through revision of lease terms and other means. The Bill will allow Central Wakf Council to take up issues related to development of Wakf properties."

Presently six states in the country do not have a functional Wakf Board and Rahman said that these will be asked to set up such a body in another six months.