Right to challenge the decision of the Waqf Tribunal…

According to the Waqf Act of 1995, if there is a dispute about a property whether it is a Waqf or not or whether it is a Shia or Sunni Waqf, then the Waqf Tribunal decides it and the decision of the Tribunal is considered final. The special thing is that to file a case in the Tribunal, an application had to be made within one year of the Waqf list being released. That is, no case could be filed in the Tribunal after one year of the Waqf list being released.

But now a change has been made in the Waqf Amendment Bill. Now the decision of the Tribunal will not be final. Now a case can be filed in the court within two years of the Waqf list being released. If a case has to be filed even after two years, then the reason for it will have to be given. Also, there is a section in the old law under which the Waqf Board could find out on its own which property is a Waqf, that section has also been removed.

Audit of Waqf accounts

According to the 1995 Act, the accounts of Waqf were audited by an auditor appointed by the Waqf Board. The state government could also get the audit done. But now after the passage of the amended bill, the auditor appointed by the Waqf Board will be from the list of auditors prepared by the state government. If the central government wants, it can get the accounts audited by the auditor appointed by the CAG of india at any time. The central government can get this audit report published in any way.

Debate on the bill in Parliament

The opposition has raised many questions on this bill. They say that the government does not have the right to make such a law, this will weaken the federal system of the country and the right of religious communities to run their religious affairs will be violated. All india Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) mp Asaduddin Owaisi has also expressed strong opposition. He said that this bill violates the basic structure of the Constitution. You want to snatch away those mosques which are claimed by RSS, you want to snatch away those dargahs which are claimed by right wing Hindutva organizations. There are many sections in it which are dangerous. This bill is not in favor of Waqf Board, but is an attempt to demolish Waqf and eliminate Muslims.