Represented by senior advocate Harish Salve, the Dawoodi Bohra community has appealed to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for exemption from the jurisdiction of any Waqf Board. They argue that the proposed legislation does not recognise their unique status within the broader Muslim community.
In a formal submission to JPC, Salve reportedly described the Dawoodi Bohra community as a “small and tightly-knit” group, emphasising that the community’s internal affairs do not require the same regulatory oversight that may apply to other Muslim denominations.
The submission also underscored the community’s need to manage its properties in accordance with its beliefs and religious practices. While Waqf Boards typically oversee Islamic charitable endowments, the Dawoodi Bohra community cited multiple Supreme Court rulings affirming their “distinctive structure” as a basis for their request for exemption.
