The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Waqf Amendment Bill aiming to make properties under Waqf Board more commercially viable. The Government said it will maintain the list of Waqf properties by extending their lease period to a maximum of 30 years.
There are four lakh registered Waqf properties across the country and if they are developed properly the income generated from these properties, which is about Rs 6000 crore at present, is expected to go up to Rs one lakh crore.
Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan said the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2010, will ensure proper commercial utilisation of Waqf property and generate revenue for socio-economic development of the entire Muslim community.
The bill to bring changes in the Waqf Act, 1995, carries proposals to strengthen Waqf institutions and streamline their functioning. The bill was earlier passed by lok Sabha in May 2010.
It was, however, referred to a select committee when it came up in Rajya Sabha on August 27, 2010 amid vociferous objections to some of its provisions from some Muslim bodies including All India Muslim Personal law Board.
lauding the efforts of the committee as well as the Joint Parliamentary Committee which suggested several amendments, Khan said under the Amendment Bill, “The Central Government will have powers to issue directions to state Waqf boards and the directions will be mandatory. If the state disputes, then it has to be settled by the tribunal.” The amended bill will now go back to the lok Sabha to endorse the changes approved by the Upper House.