{"id":15298,"date":"2025-04-03T18:58:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T13:28:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/?p=15298"},"modified":"2025-04-03T18:59:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T13:29:19","slug":"15298","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/?p=15298","title":{"rendered":"Understanding The Modifications In Waqf Act 1923\/54\/1995 and Its History"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-test-id=\"focus-group\" aria-label=\"Keyboard navigation group. Use arrow keys to navigate, or tab to the next group.\">\n<header class=\"D_F m_Z12nDQf P_Z1A2bQX I_ZkbNhI ab_CI\" data-test-id=\"message-group-header\">\n<div class=\"D_F ab_C em_N o_h A_6FsP c1AVi73_6LUG c1AVi7H_6MWH P_3Y3Gk\"><span class=\"en_N i_3mCHE c1AVi73_6LUG c1AVi7H_6MWH\" title=\"[lounge-session] Understanding The Modifications In Waqf Act 1923\/54\/1995 and Its History\" data-test-id=\"message-group-subject\"><span data-test-id=\"message-group-subject-text\">\u00a0Understanding The Modifications In Waqf Act 1923\/54\/1995 and Its History<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"D_F ab_C Y_eTB en_0\">\n<div class=\"D_F ab_C em_N en_0 o_h Y_dm5 E_fq7 U_dm5 Q_72FG\"><span class=\"D_F t_r A_6EqO c1AVi73_6EWk c1AVi7H_6LEV c1AVi7T_dPo C_Z1TsNbA cZ1RzsTJ_1c6GJq\" title=\"Yahoo\/Inbox\" data-test-id=\"message-group-destination\"><span class=\"G_e J_x o_h a_7yHc\">Rajiv Upadhyay <a href=\"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/RKU-150x150.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-7382\" src=\"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/RKU-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/RKU-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/RKU-150x150-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/RKU-150x150-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div data-test-id=\"focus-group\" aria-label=\"Keyboard navigation group. Use arrow keys to navigate, or tab to the next group.\">\n<div class=\"p_R b_2w4lU5 I_ZkbNhI em_N it_689y X_fq7 N_6LEV iu_FJ is_Z2bg7IA iv_0 iv3_dRA cZdTOHS_28Otf4 j_ZUs0f0 message-view\" tabindex=\"40\" data-test-id=\"message-view\" data-test-expanded=\"true\" data-iskeynav=\"true\">\n<div>\n<header class=\"r_BN D_F W_6D6F p_R P_Zjgzuf ir_0\" aria-label=\"Message 1 of \">\n<div class=\"D_F ab_CI en_0 H_6Fd5 W_6Fd5 lv_1IWXzk h_Z13pql2 h4_2d9T5e\"><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div data-test-id=\"message-body-container\">\n<div class=\"I_ZkbNhI D_FY W_6D6F\" data-test-id=\"message-view-body\">\n<div class=\"X_6MGW\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"msg-body P_wpofO mq_AS\" data-test-id=\"message-view-body-content\">\n<div class=\"jb_0 X_6MGW N_6Fd5\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"yiv7969539641\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"yiv7969539641ydp92284344yahoo-style-wrap\">\n<div id=\"yiv7969539641ydp92284344yiv0101806241\">\n<div class=\"yiv7969539641ydp92284344yiv0101806241yahoo-style-wrap\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">Waqf is a Islamic practice of managing property donated by individuals etc for public welfare like mosques , madarsas etc . Such property cannot be sold .In India it was introduced first in Delhi Sultanate era . British made a law in 1923\u00a0 called\u00a0 \u00a0 Mussalman\u00a0 Waqf Act\u00a0 \u00a0giving a legal shape to traditional practices . After independence in Pandit Nehru&#8217;s time the act was modified in 1954 and some new dangerous provisions were added like<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">Any property taken by a Waqf from a non-Muslim party is a loss to the latter, inflicted under state sanction and without judicial recourse. That makes the Waqf Act an unlimited predatory practice, a clear usurpation of the latter party\u2019s rights.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul dir=\"ltr\">\n<li>Under Sections 40 (1) and 40 (2) of the Act, any property may be declared as waqf property after collecting information from the public but without any public hearing. The decision of the Waqf board will be final.\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>In one case it was reportedly stated that we have reasons to believe that Shah Jahan gave it to his daughter for waqf, with out any proof.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><em>40(1). Decision if a property is 1[waqf] property\u2014 The Board may itself collect information regarding any property which it has reason to believe to be 1[waqf] property and if any question arises whether a particular property is 1[waqf] property or not or whether a 1[waqf] is a Sunni 1[waqf] or a Shia 1[waqf], it may, after making such inquiry as it may deem fit, decide the question.\u201d<\/em><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;\"><i>While Pakistan distributed hindu properties to muslims particularly refugees , India gave land to Waqf boards.<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">In 1995 , Nehruvian act was replaced by a new act with even more draconian provisions .<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">This lead to a stampede let loose by this unprecedented sweeping and draconian powers given to Waqf boards . Of course congress became the main political beneficiary of of this largesse to not ordinary muslims but to its \u0920\u0947\u0915\u0947\u0926\u093e\u0930 ( ruling elite ) .<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">Waqf Boards became the third largest owner of land in India after RAILWAYS and Defence .<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div>The government says that the waqf boards are among India\u2019s largest landholders. There are at least 872,351 waqf properties across India, spanning more than 940,000 acres, with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=152139&amp;ModuleId=3&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">an estimated value of 1.2 trillion rupees<\/a>\u00a0($14.22bn; \u00a311.26bn).<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">As stated in my earlier posts these powers were grossly misused like claiming Tajmahal or an entire village in Tamilnadu being claimed without appeal as Waqf property . The burden of proof shifted to person owning the land. Also there was a gross corruption in mismanagement of land rent and income from Waqf properties .<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>Sachar Committee in 2006<\/p>\n<div>The committee estimated that efficient use of the land had the potential to generate an annual revenue of about 120bn rupees (1.4bn; \u00a31.1bn). The current annual revenue, according to some\u00a0estimates\u00a0is around 2bn rupees.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<p class=\"yiv7969539641ydp92284344yiv0101806241ydpf7035083MsoNormal\">According to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wamsi.nic.in\/wamsi\/dashBoardAction.do?method=totalRegisteredProp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">government data<\/a>, at least 58,889 of waqf properties are currently encroached upon, while more than 13,000 are under litigation. The status of more than 435,000 properties remains unknown.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"yiv7969539641ydp92284344yiv0101806241ydpfd96777bMsoNormal\">The 1954 Waqf Act recognised such properties under the category of \u201cwaqf by user\u201d, but the proposed law omits the provision, leaving the fate of a significant number of these properties uncertain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yiv7969539641ydp92284344yiv0101806241ydpfd96777bMsoNormal\">Professor Mujibur Rehman, author of Shikwa-e-Hind: The Political Future of Indian Muslims, explains that tracing the ownership of such long-standing community properties is complicated, as their management and deed systems have shifted over the centuries from the Mughal system to the British colonial system, and now to the current system.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yiv7969539641ydp92284344yiv0101806241ydpfd96777bMsoNormal\">\u201cYou can trace personal properties up to a few generations, but tracing community properties is more difficult, as their management keeps changing over time,\u201d Prof Rehman says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\u00a0Government claimed that greater transparency will increase the income . Also though there are separate Shia and Sunni bodies but other sects of Islam like Bohras , Aga Khanis etc were excluded and women were denied any share in income from Waqf property .<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">The current act restrains the Waqf board from declaring any property as Waqf property till it is verified by DM or his office. Also Waqf Boards have to register WAQF PROPERTY WITH DM .It also gives representation to muslims sects like Bohras, Aga Khanis , women\u00a0 and non muslims also so that other view point is heard before any precipitatory action is taken .<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">Basically no other religious organisation in the country enjoyed such vast and draconian powers on land and muslims as Waqf Boards .<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">In the new act Section 40 has been deleted . So Waqf board has to prove that the property has been donated to Waqf , DM will conduct enquiry ,\u00a0 Waqf property will be registered like any other property .<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">It is only common sense but it took seventy years to bring it !<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0Understanding The Modifications In Waqf Act 1923\/54\/1995 and Its History Rajiv Upadhyay Waqf is a&#8230; <a class=\"meta-more\" href=\"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/?p=15298\">more <span class=\"meta-nav\">&raquo;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15299,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15298","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15298"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15298\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15301,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15298\/revisions\/15301"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}