Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 proposes inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf boards; strips the Board of powers to declare a property as waqf

The Sachar Committee Report highlights that Muslims are among the most backward communities in India, trailing behind even OBCs on various parameters. One of the key suggestions of the Sachar Committee was to utilize Waqf properties to empower Muslims. However, rather than implementing these recommendations, the BJP government appears to be moving in a different direction, potentially depriving Muslims of their Waqf properties through legislative amendments. The government is set to introduce the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 2023, to amend the Waqf Act of 1995. The proposed legislation aims to remove Section 40, which grants Waqf Boards the authority to decide if a property is Waqf property. A copy of the bill, accessed by The Hindu, indicates that the new legislation will ensure "representation of Muslim and non-Muslims" in the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards. The bill also proposes the registration of Waqf properties throu