Centre issues notification; Waqf Amendment Act comes into force

NEW DELHI: Following the passage of the bill in Parliament and its subsequent approval by the President, the Central Government has officially notified the implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act. According to the notification, the law came into effect on Tuesday.

The law's enforcement comes amid mounting opposition from various political parties and Muslim organizations, many of whom have approached the Supreme Court challenging key provisions of the Act. Meanwhile, the Central Government has also filed an intervention petition in the ongoing case. The matter is scheduled to be heard on the 16th. The bill was passed on the 3rd during a heated budget session in Parliament and received Presidential assent on the 5th, thereby becoming law.

According to the amended law, no land can now be arbitrarily declared as Waqf property. Tribal lands and heritage monuments are excluded from the purview of Waqf. All Waqf properties must be registered on a central portal. Before converting any property into Waqf, the inheritance rights of women must be ensured. The Act also includes provisions for appointing two non-Muslim members each to the Central Waqf Council and the State Waqf Boards.