Rajya Sabha Approves Waqf Amendment Bill With 128-95 Vote Count After Extensive Debate

Rajya Sabha Approves Waqf Amendment Bill With 128-95 Vote Count After Extensive Debate

The Rajya Sabha has given its approval to the Waqf Amendment Bill, with 128 members voting in favor and 95 opposing it, following an extensive discussion. The bill will now be sent to President Droupadi Murmu for her approval, after which it will become an official Act. This follows the Lok Sabha’s approval a day earlier, where 288 MPs supported the bill while 232 opposed it.

Major Discussions in Rajya Sabha

During the session, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju highlighted that the bill had been drafted with amendments suggested by various stakeholders. He emphasized that the Waqf Board is a statutory body and that all government institutions should maintain secularism, justifying the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board. However, he assured that their representation would be limited to only four out of 22 members.

Rijiju accused opposition parties, including Congress, of misleading Muslims about the bill and asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government was striving to uplift the Muslim community. He remarked, “Muslims remain impoverished—who is to blame? You (Congress) are. Modi’s government is now working towards their progress.”

In a noteworthy development, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Naveen Patnaik allowed his party’s seven Rajya Sabha MPs to cast votes based on their individual judgment rather than following a party directive. Later, senior BJD leader Sasmit Patra explained via social media that this decision was made in consideration of the sentiments of different minority communities regarding the bill.

Key Reforms Proposed in the Waqf Amendment Bill

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill introduces several crucial reforms to enhance transparency and governance in Waqf institutions:

1. Reinforcing Waqf Tribunals – The bill suggests a well-defined selection process and fixed tenures for tribunal members to facilitate better dispute resolution.
2. Lowering Waqf Contributions – Contributions from Waqf institutions to Waqf Boards will be reduced from 7% to 5%.
3. Financial Oversight – Waqf institutions with an annual income exceeding Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits conducted by state-appointed auditors.
4. Digitalization of Records – A centralized online portal will be developed to manage Waqf properties efficiently.
5. Restoring Pre-2013 Dedication Regulations – The bill reinstates earlier provisions that allow practicing Muslims with at least five years of continuous practice to dedicate property to Waqf.
6. Women’s Rights and Inheritance Protection – It ensures that women receive their rightful inheritance before any property is designated as Waqf, along with additional safeguards for widows, divorced women, and orphans.
7. Government Property Investigations – Any government land claimed as Waqf will require an investigation by an officer of at least the rank of collector.
8. Promoting Inclusivity – The bill aims to enhance transparency and diversity by including non-Muslim members in both central and state Waqf Boards.

Now awaiting presidential assent, this bill signifies a significant step towards reforming Waqf governance, while also sparking heated political debates about its impact on religious and minority rights in India.