The sixth meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, held on Friday, saw broad support from various stakeholders for the proposed legislation aimed at improving the management and regulation of Waqf properties in India.
The meeting, held in Parliament, included contributions from the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council (AISSC), Ajmer, the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, Delhi, and Bharat First, Delhi.
According to sources, the meeting began with a presentation by Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of AISSC, Ajmer. In its presentation, AISSC advocated for the autonomy of shrines and expressed support for the bill. The council alleged discrimination by the Waqf Board and accused it of mismanaging funds, leading to heated exchanges between council members and opposition MPs.
The council emphasized that only 7 percent of the funds allocated to dargahs go to the Waqf Board, without any accountability for their use. Opposition MPs demanded that the council submit a detailed report on the funds received by the dargahs to the committee.
While supporting the bill, the council clarified that it would help curb attempts to seize property under the name of Waqf. Opposition MPs raised concerns about the legality of Hereditary Sajjadaship or Successorship, arguing that deemed hereditary succession among Sajjadanashins is illegal. However, the council asserted that court rulings have already favored their position. The council also assured that all requested documents would be submitted to the committee on time.
Sufi Shah Malang, representing the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, also gave a detailed presentation in support of the bill. National Convener of the Sufi Shah Malang Cell, Tahir Shah, called for the creation of a separate Auqaf Board for the Sufi Shah Malang (Faqir) community in light of amendments to the Waqf Act, 1995. He also recommended that women from the Muslim extremely backward nomadic community be given representation on the Waqf Board Council and the State Waqf Board.
Shah further proposed forming the Waqf Board according to the Indian Constitution, ensuring participation from non-Muslims. The Hindustani Muslim Sufi Shah-Malang (Faqir) community expressed full support for the Waqf Amendment Bill and praised the Modi government, a stance strongly opposed by Muslim opposition MPs.
Delhi-based NGO Bharat First also presented its position, with a 10-member team led by Advocate Shiraz Quraishi and Shahid Saeed, strongly supporting the bill. Bharat First emphasized the need to address inefficiency, corruption, and mismanagement within the Waqf Board. The NGO proposed digitizing properties and creating a centralized digital registry for real-time monitoring, along with independent annual audits and a Central Waqf Tribunal for dispute resolution.
The NGO also called for community participation in smaller Waqf properties through local committees and equitable resource management. Bharat First highlighted the mismanagement of Waqf funds, illegal occupation of prime Waqf properties, and thousands of unresolved Waqf-related disputes as major hindrances to proper asset management. They suggested adopting global models from countries like Turkey, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia, which have modernized Waqf management by integrating Waqf assets into national development plans.
Bharat First also recommended focusing on healthcare, education, and economic empowerment, noting that effective implementation of the Waqf Amendment Bill would require staff training, technology integration, and community engagement.
The meeting was met with opposition from several MPs, who raised key objections. They argued that the bill eliminates the provision of “Waqf by user,” which allows individuals to declare a property as Waqf based on usage. They also opposed the abolition of the Waqf Tribunal, which currently has the authority to resolve Waqf-related disputes.
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The opposition was particularly critical of appointing a collector to oversee Waqf properties, arguing that this would lead to government interference in Waqf affairs. They also objected to the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards, expressing concerns about the erosion of Muslim autonomy over Waqf properties.
The Joint Committee is expected to submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the end of the first week of the next Parliament session. So far, the committee has received over 9 million suggestions via email.
