New Delhi, 04 August: The central government is going to make a big change in the Waqf Act. According to sources, the Union Cabinet approved the changes in the Act in the Union Cabinet meeting held on Friday.
Through this bill, the powers of the Waqf Boards to declare any property as ‘Waqf Property’ and to control it will be curbed.
In these changes being made through the bill, the central government will reduce the powers of the board. The representation of women will be increased in the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards. Mandatory verification will be ensured before declaring Waqf property. The bill also has provisions for fresh verification of disputed land. The
Waqf Act was initially passed in 1954, but was later replaced by a new version in 1995.
Section 40 of the Waqf Act, 1995 empowers the board to acquire, issue notices or inquire into the ownership of property it believes to be a wakif.
