The debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 is gaining attention in Telangana, especially as the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is expected to visit Hyderabad by the end of September. Telangana has the second-highest number of Waqf-owned land properties, following Uttar Pradesh.
Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Hyderabad’s MP, is urging people to oppose the bill. Owaisi, a lawyer by training, called the proposed changes ‘oppressive’ and ‘unconstitutional.’ He raised concerns at a meeting with religious leaders, highlighting specific sections of the bill that he believes could negatively impact the Muslim community. Owaisi emphasized the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the existing Waqf Act of 1995 and criticized the proposed amendments, particularly Section 40, which deals with the authority of the Waqf Tribunal and other key legal aspects.
On the other side, the BJP is supporting the amendments and has launched an awareness campaign. DK Aruna, a BJP leader and the Mahbubnagar MP, criticized those opposing the amendments, accusing them of misleading the public. She argued that the proposed changes are necessary because Waqf properties have not been used to benefit the poor and that there are reports of misuse of these properties. Aruna attended meetings in Zaheerabad and Boduppal, where she promised to bring people’s concerns to the JPC.
Aruna also called on Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to submit a representation to the JPC about the issues faced by people regarding Waqf properties. At the meetings, farmers and other community members raised questions about the current Waqf Act of 1995. They argued that the Act, in its current form, violates their constitutional rights, including the “Right to Life and Livelihood,” “Right to Practice Profession,” and “Right to reside in any place in India.”
The main issue raised was Section 40 of the Act, which gives the Waqf Board broad powers to declare any property as Waqf property based on a “reason to believe” legal standard. This allows the Waqf Board to take over properties, forcing the affected individuals to prove their ownership, which is unlike most other property laws in India.
Legal experts are now delving into the legal foundations of the Waqf Act, particularly Section 40, and questioning whether it conflicts with constitutional principles. The debate continues as both sides prepare to make their cases before the JPC.
