It is learned that Islamic Seminary Darul Uloom Deoband has opposed the proposed changes in the existing Waqf Act during the meeting of Parliament’s Joint Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday.
Panel Chairperson Jagdambika Pal said that in the coming weeks, the committee will call officials from states where the number of disputes between state governments and waqf boards is high.
A delegation representing the seminary said that the existing law governing waqf property needs to be implemented effectively and there is no need to change or modify it.
Maulana Arshad Madani, principal of Darul Uloom Deoband, participated in the proceedings and also presented a paper containing the seminary’s views on the proposed 44 amendments to the Waqf Act.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting on Wednesday, Pal said: “It has been mentioned in the Sachar Committee report… that there are disputes between Waqf Boards and state governments. In Delhi, there are more than 200 such properties, 60 in UP, 45 in Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. .In the six states where there is a dispute, we will call the chief secretary level officials. So we can include it in the report The JPC will also call the states… We will call the stakeholders, and the study tour was incomplete, and it will continue in Kolkata, Patna and Lucknow. We will meet the officials and stakeholders there.”
Talking about the participation of Deoband Seminary on Wednesday, Pal said it is an important institution and will be heard.