The parliamentary committee examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill has sought details of unauthorized occupation of Waqf properties from state governments. The Sachar Committee report had mentioned occupation of Waqf properties in many states. The committee has also sought details from the states of the properties claimed by Waqf boards under Section 40 of the Waqf Act. Let us tell you that the tenure of the parliamentary committee has now been extended till the last day of the budget session.

Debate started on section 40

The Congress government amended the Wakf Act in 2013. Section 40 of this law is the most controversial. Actually, this section gives the Wakf boards the right to decide whether a property is Wakf or not. Now the current amendment bill is aimed at curbing this. However, many Muslim organizations including opposition parties criticized the government's move. They termed the bill as interference in religious matters.

Details of occupied properties sought from states

The parliamentary committee has also sought details of those Wakf properties which are in possession of state governments or their official agencies. The Sachar Committee formed in 2005 was informed about illegal possession by various Wakf boards. The parliamentary committee is collecting information from the states through the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs.

What is in the Sachar Committee report?

According to sources, the parliamentary committee headed by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal has found that in 2005-06, 316 such properties were reported to the Sachar Committee in Delhi, 60 in Rajasthan and 42 in Karnataka. There were 53 occupied properties in Madhya Pradesh, 60 in Uttar Pradesh and 53 in Odisha. The committee has sought information from all these six states. Apart from this, information has also been received from other states.

Details of properties with legal disputes also have to be given

The committee has also urged state governments to share details of cases where their agencies are involved in legal disputes with the Wakf Board over ownership or possession of a property. The UPA government had set up the Sachar Committee in 2005 to study the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community in India. The committee submitted its report in 2006.