The Central government has empowered the Muslim women further as they have also been included as members of the Waqf boards.
The key provisions of the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025 include the following: in the State Waqf Boards (Section 14), as well as in the Central Waqf Council (Section 9), two Muslim women will now remain members to make Muslim women in principle more represented in waqf management and thus empowered.
Other provisions are that one member from the Muslim OBC community will be included in the State Waqf Boards (Section 14) so that there is all-round representation.
It further stated that the state government could also form individual Waqf Boards for Aghakhani and Bohra communities, as the state government understands their religious demands differ from others (Section 13).
It added that in family waqfs known as Waqf Alal Aulad, the inheritance rights of women would be protected.
"A waqif can gift property only after providing females with their due share (Section 3A(2)," it said.
Another significant provision that has been incorporated is that the registered Waqf by User will remain considered as waqf, unless the property is under dispute or belongs to the government (Section 3(r)).
It also stated that the Limitation Act shall apply to all cases relating to waqf from the date of commencement of this Act, so that the cases get decided in time and do not get prolonged (Section 107).
In addition, online registration would be launched to introduce automated life cycles for waqf properties through the portal.
The report said "Waqf Boards must upload all details regarding waqf properties on a central portal within six months. The Waqf Tribunal may grant extensions on a case-to-case basis.".
The reports say that a property belonging to the government which is declared as waqf would invite an inquiry by an officer above the rank of Collector, notified by the state government as per law. Until such a report is submitted, the properties belonging to the government would not be construed as waqf as such (Section 3C).
It further stated that Muslim trusts, which are equivalent to waqf but governed by trust laws, are not within the scope of the Waqf Act, 1995, and therefore are not covered under any litigation (Section 2A).
Consequently, income from Waqf Alal Aulad can be utilized to support widows, divorced women, and orphans if specified by the waqif (Section 3(r)(iv)).
The finality of decisions by tribunals has been taken away. Any aggrieved person can now appeal to the High Court within ninety days of the tribunal's decision," the available information reads.
To ease the process further, online registration certificates of waqf properties will be issued through the portal.
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