SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, has expressed support for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, stating that she does not anticipate any negative consequences from its implementation.
Dr Andrabi, said that the bill, once passed, is expected to contribute positively to the betterment of Waqf institutions.
She highlighted the importance of legislative improvements and expressed confidence that the amendments would be beneficial.
According to her, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 aims to modernise the management of Waqf properties by enhancing transparency, ensuring equitable representation—including that of Muslim women and non-Muslims—and reducing litigation.
The bill proposes renaming the Act as the “Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995.” Key amendments include clarifying property dedication rules and repealing Section 40, which previously allowed Waqf boards to unilaterally determine the status of properties as Waqf.
Supporters of the bill argue that these amendments will bring accountability and transparency to Waqf boards, reduce corruption, and ensure fair representation.
The introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 has sparked a mix of support and opposition, reflecting the complexities involved in reforming Waqf property management in India.
As the Waqf amendment bill was tabled in Parliament, political parties in the Kashmir opposed the bill.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti termed the bill a “deliberate” targeting of Muslims and urged the majority community to stand up against it.
“This is Gandhi ji’s country, and it should be governed by the Constitution, not the BJP’s agenda,” Mufti said. “If the people of this country do not want India to follow the path of Myanmar or see a repeat of what happened to Kashmiri Pandits—an incident for which we still express regret and continue to face criticism—they must speak up. If they remain silent, nothing can prevent the country from falling apart.”
Peoples Conference chairman and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone, in a post on X said that the Waqf Bill is yet another instance of right-wing interference.
“Waqf, by definition, is the custodian of properties collectively owned by Muslims. It is an Islamic concept. The proposed amendment by Parliament is a blatant interference in our faith, aimed at divesting rightful custodians of their authority. Yet another right-wing trespass,” he said.
PDP legislator Waheed Ur Rehman Para said that the Bill mirrors the J&K Reorganisation Act, prioritising control over community rights. “Just like the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, which reorganised the state into union territories, the Waqf Bill seeks to centralise authority over community properties,” he said.
Senior NC leader Hasnain Masoodi vowed to oppose the bill “tooth and nail,” calling it “unnecessary and undemocratic.” He accused the Joint Parliamentary Committee of failing to function democratically and alleged that the government was deliberately targeting a particular community.
“A particular community is being deliberately targeted. There is no such law anywhere in the world. We will oppose it with full force,” Masoodi said, warning that the bill sets a dangerous precedent for state interference in religious matters.
He stressed that reform should not come at the cost of a community’s rights, stating, “This bill is just the beginning, and if passed, it will have serious consequences.” He cautioned that it could lead to further encroachments on Muslim religious affairs.
“We will take every constitutional step to oppose this bill. This is direct interference in Muslim affairs, and we will not allow our community’s rights to be eroded,” he asserted, adding that NC would use all democratic and legal means to challenge the bill. (With JKNS Inputs)
