ASIATODAY.ID, NEW DELHI – India’s legislature has passed a controversial law regulating traditional Islamic trusts, despite concerns that it may erode property rights for the country’s Muslim minority.
A ‘waqf’ is a charitable endowment under Islamic law, where a Muslim typically donates property or an asset for public benefit, for example for use as a mosque, school or hospital. The key feature of the endowment is that once it is created, it cannot be sold, gifted, or inherited.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill passed with 288 votes in favor and 232 against in the Lok Sabha (lower house) and 128 to 95 in the Rajya Sabha (upper house) after two days of debate. It seeks to reform the management of properties and ensure the preservation of heritage sites while protecting individual property rights.
In recent years, several Indian states have been embroiled in disputes over waqf property claims, resulting in prolonged legal battles and community tensions and prompting this overhaul, officials said.
Key changes in the Bill include reducing the institutions’ mandatory contribution to waqf boards from 7% to 5%, mandatory audits for waqf institutions earning over $1,200 annually, a centralized portal for automated property management, and the inclusion of women and orphans in receiving waqf inheritance.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X said the passage of the Bill was a “historic moment” and would “benefit” those who have long been “marginalized”, whose voices have gone unheard, and who have been deprived of opportunities.
A 2006 report by the Sachar Committee, appointed by former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, recommended a comprehensive reform of waqf boards and the strict monitoring of properties to increase revenue for the Muslim community.
According to Pew Research Center forecasts, India is expected to have the largest Muslim population in the world by 2050. However, despite comprising around 13% of the country’s population, this community trails behind the national average in areas such as education, employment, and political representation.
Some Muslim groups claim that since 2014, the ruling party led by Modi and its affiliates have implemented policies that are discriminatory towards their religion, encouraging sectarian violence and the demolition of property.
Mallikarjun Kharge, opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha, has condemned the bill as “unconstitutional” and claimed that the government was trying to “sow the seeds of conflict” by suppressing Muslims. He has urged the government to maintain peace and harmony in the country. (RT)
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