Govt’s Waqf bill sparks controversy, congress calls it attack on constitution

New Delhi: With the government set to introduce the bill to overhaul the Waqf laws, the Congress has referred to the legislation as "an attack on the Constitution of India itself" and accused it of trying to "harm the centuries-old ties of social harmony in our distinctively multi-religious society.

Government Defends Waqf Bill

Ramesh argued that all the institutions which have been established by the earlier Acts to manage waqfs (national council, state boards and tribunals) are sought to be minimized in status, strength and power so as to intentionally deny the community the right to manage its own religious customs and affairs. He argued that there is deliberate vagueness that has been brought in to decide on who can donate their lands for waqf purposes thereby changing the very definition of waqf itself.

Govt Justifies Waqf Bill as Necessary Reform

The concept of waqf-by-user evolved by the country's judiciary based on long, continuous and unbroken customary practice is being done away with. Provisions in the current law are being eliminated without any justification simply to undermine the administration of the waqf. Stronger defences are now being incorporated in the law to safeguard those who have encroached upon waqf land. Extreme authority has been assigned to the Collector and other appointed state government officers regarding issues about disputes relating to waqf properties as also their registration.State government officials officers will now have the authority to derecognize any waqf on the complaint or allegation by anyone that the property of the waqf is a government property until a final order is passed," his statement said.

Debate Heats Up

The joint parliamentary committee (JPC) that questioned controversial amendments to the waqf bill tabled its report in both Houses last month. The Lower House had formed the 31-member JPC for the waqf amendment bill on August 9, one day after the bill was put in the Lok Sabha.The JPC passed core amendments to the draft bill by majority, rejecting all opposition party members' amendments and approving those introduced by the BJP and its allies