Muslims can be reduced to minority under the WAQF Act. According to legal experts, the new law will also put the board in mercy of the state government, which may reside with non-Muslims.
The new law insists that an Islamic theology scholar and two or more elected members from municipalities or politics from the state should be elected from the Muslim community to designate the board of directors of 11 members, the bill is Article 14 of the 1995 WAQF Act.
While the state government can appoint chairmen, members of Congress and MLA, as well as members of the board of directors’ state lawyers’ committee, the new bill does not insist that they need to be Muslims. The joint secretary of the state government, board members and CEOs involved in the WAQF issue do not have to be Muslims. The board will also appoint two professionals with expertise in business management, social work, finance, income, agriculture or development. They noted that the 2025 enactment could effectively reduce Muslim representation in the 11-member committee to four.
They noted that the bill also gives state governments the people who are picky about anyone of any religion to influence the board’s key positions to influence its decisions.
“Help Munambam residents”
By the way, minority union minister Kiren Rijiju pointed out in the Kochi case that changes introduced by the WAQF board will help Munambam residents regain tax rights for their shares.
Legal experts point out that the new law is significantly off from the 1995 WAQF Act, which under Article 14 stipulates that Muslim members come from members of Congress, MLAS and state bar associations, as well as joint secretary-level officials and should be nominated to the board of directors.
If Muslims are not elected to the state lawyers’ committee, states can nominate any senior Muslim advocates. Article 16 of the bill also provides that if he is not a Muslim, no member of the board, including his chairman, shall be appointed or continue to be a member of the board. Anyone who ruled that any WAQF property was guilty of being guilty will be cancelled from participating in the board of directors.Therefore, Muslims will no longer be members of the board of directors when comparing the provisions of the two legislations.
“Buldozer Raji”
WAQF Minister of State V. Abdurahiman is concerned that the 2025 bill would lower Muslims to a tiny degree in the board of directors and lead to the bulldozer Raj of WAQF Properties. He said the dispute could be removed in any WAQF property anywhere and then removed using the provisions of the bill.
Unless Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it is impossible for Muslims to have a proper representation on the WAQF boards in most states under the new legislation. He fears that WAQF boards in some states may have non-Muslims and community representatives will be reduced to legal minimum numbers.
publishing – April 17, 2025, 17:00 pm IST
