4 August 2024: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has unequivocally declared that any amendments to the Waqf Act, 2013, which alter the status and nature of waqf properties or make it easier for the government or individuals to appropriate them, will not be accepted. The Board also stated that any attempts to limit or curtail the powers of the Waqf Boards would be firmly opposed.
Dr. Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, spokesperson for the AIMPLB, expressed in a press statement that credible reports indicate the Indian government is planning approximately 40 amendments to the Waqf Act, 2013. These amendments aim to change the status and nature of waqf properties, making it easier to seize and appropriate them. The proposed bill is expected to be presented in Parliament next week. Dr. Ilyas emphasized that waqf properties are charitable donations from the Muslim community’s ancestors for religious and philanthropic purposes. The government’s role is merely to regulate these properties through the Waqf Act.
He further noted that both the Indian Constitution and the Shariat Application Act, 1937, protect the Waqf Act and waqf properties. Therefore, the government cannot introduce amendments that fundamentally alter the nature and status of these properties. Dr. Ilyas pointed out that the government’s actions and decisions concerning the Muslim community have consistently resulted in losses, citing examples such as the closure of the Maulana Azad Foundation, the cancellation of minority scholarships, and the enactment of the Triple Talaq law.
He warned that this issue extends beyond the Muslim community, predicting that after targeting waqf properties, the government might next aim at the religious properties of Sikhs, Christians, and eventually the Hindu community’s temples and religious estates. Dr. Ilyas made it clear that the Muslim community will categorically reject any amendments that alter the essence of the Waqf Act. Additionally, any interference with the legal and judicial powers of the Waqf Boards will not be tolerated.
The AIMPLB spokesperson urged NDA allies and opposition parties to strongly oppose any such proposals and ensure they are not passed in Parliament. Dr. Ilyas called on Indian Muslims and their religious and community organizations to unite against the central government’s actions. The Board is prepared to utilize all legal and democratic means to prevent these amendments.
