Cabinet Approves Waqf Bill Reforms; Law Expected by April 2025

In a significant step, the Union Cabinet adopted the Waqf (Amendment) Bill revisions on Thursday, implementing the most recent Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) recommendations. The law will now be presented for debate and approval during the second half of the budget session, which is scheduled to take place between March 10 and April 4. The budget session's first phase took place between January 31 and February 13.

In its meeting on February 19, the Cabinet approved 14 changes proposed by the JPC, according to sources cited by news agency IANS. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill suggested 44 modifications to the statutes that govern state and federal Waqf boards.

Government Vs Opposition on Waqf Board Reforms

Opposition protesters were enraged by the ideas, which include the nomination of non-Muslim and (at least two) female members to a Waqf Board. Following its introduction in the Lok Sabha by Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Minority Affairs, the Bill was sent to the JPC in August 2024.

Despite objections from all ten of the opposition parties' members, the parliamentary panel endorsed the report by a majority vote. Additionally, they had moved dissent notes.

Sources informed IANS that the Cabinet approved the Indian Port Bill last week, and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government has implemented the majority of the revisions suggested by the Jagdambika Pal-led JPC. 

UMEED Bill to Replace Waqf Amendment Bill 2024

The 'Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill' will replace the existing Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. Key provisions include:

• Ensuring women's inheritance rights
• Adding a Muslim OBC community member
• Uploading Waqf property details to a central portal within six months

To facilitate the Waqf Board's operations and guarantee the effective administration of Waqf properties, two bills—the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024—were presented to the Lok Sabha on August 8, 2024. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to address the problems and difficulties in governing and managing Waqf properties by amending the Waqf Act, 1995.

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Key Changes in Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024

Two bills—the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024—were introduced on August 8, 2024. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to:

• Improve Waqf property management
• Simplify registration procedures
• Use technology for better record-keeping

According to a government news release, the main goal of the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, is to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923, a piece of colonial-era legislation that is now out of date and insufficient for administering waqf lands in contemporary India. In addition to removing uncertainties and contradictions brought about by the continuous presence of this superfluous regulation, the repeal seeks to guarantee consistency, accountability, and openness in the administration and management of waqf lands.