Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad wholeheartedly welcomes and applauds the Waqf Amendment Bill passed by both houses of the Parliament. This bill will help resolve several disputes related to Waqf through a just process and inclusion of non-muslims and women in Waqf Council will make it more transparent, impartial and credible. The provisions mandating the audit and registration of Waqf properties and ensuring the protection of government properties are also commendable making this more efficient.
Under the Waqf Amendment Bill online registration of Waqf properties will be mandatory within six months granting the government thr authority to audit and monitor them hence preventing the misuse of law. The inclusion of non-muslims and women will ensure diversity, fairness and broader consensus in decision-making.
The bill, passed democratically in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, stipulates that only properties received through donations will be considered waqf property, and no property can be claimed as waqf without proper documentation and survey. ABVP hopes that in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution, the Waqf Amendment Law will be inclusive, just, and ensure transparency in waqf management.
Moreover, claims on government properties under Waqf will be examined by senior officals and if found invalid the property will be recorded as government’s in the revenue records creating ethical and credible decision-making in case of disputes. The bill also allows decisions of the Waqf Tribunal to be challenged in the High Court, enhancing transparency in the judicial process and strengthening individual rights. ABVP believes that this long due judicial amendment passed through constitutional procedures is another strong step towards transparency in democratic processes.
ABVP’s National General Secretary Dr Virendra Solanki stated, “The Waqf Amendment Bill passed by both the houses of Bharatiya Parliament is essential for ensuring fairness in Bharat’s overall development. Various disputes and challenges have arisen concerning the previous Waqf law which will now be addressed fairly through this bill. The call for integration of non-muslims and women in the Waqf Council will make it even more impartial. The efforts to eliminate discrimination based on religious sects will put an end to the concept of parallel authority. All bharatiya citizens must study this newly amended law comprehensively and compare it with previous provisions to develop a fact based understanding. ABVP appreciates the government’s significant step towards transparency and judicial reforms and considers it a historic initiative towards equality and inclusivity in Bharatiya society.”
