Amid rising debates over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Haji Syed Salman Chishty, the Ajmer Dargah Gaddi Nashin and Chishty Foundation chairman, has extended his strong support for the proposed legislation, calling it a much-needed reform to address rampant inefficiencies, corruption, and lack of transparency in Waqf property management. His endorsement follows the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council’s (KCBC) recent appeal to MPs to back the amendments, further intensifying the discourse surrounding the Bill.
Chishty did not mince words when describing the current state of Waqf boards across the country. He termed the Waqf system as “one of the most significant, yet underutilised, institutions” that has been “hampered by inefficiencies, mismanagement, and a lack of transparency.”
Citing the Sachar Committee Report (2006), Chishty revealed that the potential revenue from Waqf properties could touch Rs 20,000 crore annually, yet the actual revenue generation remains a meager Rs 200 crore. “This is an unacceptable loss of resources that could be channelled into socio-economic development for the Muslim community,” he wrote.
Chishty further emphasised, “The fact that such a vast resource base is not being leveraged effectively for the betterment of the community has been a cause for grave concern for many decades.” According to Chishty, the proposed Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill—also known as the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024—aims to fix long-standing governance issues. He pointed out that the misuse of Waqf properties by mutawallis (custodians) and other board members with “zero credibility” has plagued the system for years.
“These reforms are crucial as they acknowledge the widespread consensus within the Muslim community regarding the misuse of Waqf properties and the inefficiencies that have prevented Waqf boards from maximising the value of these assets,” Chishty noted.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju echoed Chishty’s concerns, stating that the Bill seeks to “address some of the long-standing issues that are plaguing the Waqf.” Sharing Chishty’s article on social media, Rijiju urged stakeholders to embrace reform and accountability to ensure that Waqf properties serve their intended purpose.
BJP MP and chairman of the JPC committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagdambika Pal, emphasised that the bill aims to resolve longstanding disputes and ensure better management of Waqf properties. Citing controversies such as the declaration of Kerala’s centuries-old church and the new Parliament building as Waqf properties, he asserted, “This bill will put an end to these issues.”
Pal highlighted the divided response within the Muslim community, noting that while many clerics support the bill, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) remains opposed. “On ‘Alvida Namaz,’ they urged people to wear black armbands in protest, and even today, on Eid, they have called for demonstrations. But why?” he questioned.
He further stated, “Let the amended law come into effect. Today, many Muslims are expressing gratitude to PM Modi for ‘Saugat-e-Modi.’ While we uphold ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,’ Congress, Owaisi, and AIMPLB continue to treat Muslims as a vote bank through appeasement politics. Around 1.25 crore people have submitted their representations on this bill, and we have listened to voices from across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir’s Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The bill will be tabled once the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) sets the date.”
Adding to the voices supporting the Bill, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has also urged Members of Parliament from Kerala to endorse the amendments. “There should be a solution to the Munambam issue,” the KCBC said, referring to a controversial Waqf land dispute in Kerala. The council has labelled certain existing provisions of the Waqf Act as “unconstitutional and unjust.”
Despite such opposition, Chishty remains steadfast in his support. “By overhauling the governance and administration of Waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council, the Bill seeks to create a more accountable and transparent system that can better serve the community,” he wrote.
Chishty believes that Waqf properties, if managed efficiently, could fund world-class educational institutions, hospitals, and other social welfare projects. “This is where we, as Indian Muslims, must broaden our understanding of ‘welfare’. Welfare does not mean free, run-down institutions that struggle to sustain themselves,” he argued.
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