Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 10:00am on 02 Apr 2025,Wednesday Politics
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, tabled in Lok Sabha, removes Section 40, which allowed the Waqf Board to declare land as Waqf property. Law Minister Kiren Rijiju called it the "most draconian" provision, alleging misuse for mass land conversions. The Bill, now renamed the UMEED Bill, allows legal challenges in high courts within 90 days. It also removes 'Waqf by user,' ensuring only self-owned property can be declared Waqf. Rijiju cited cases from Kerala and Haryana, where Christian and Sikh communities opposed Waqf land claims. The Bill shifts property decisions to district collectors, preventing arbitrary conversions. (PC:
