“How can a collector be judge of his case,” AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi slams Waqf amendment bill

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 25 (ANI): The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) supremo Asaduddin Owaisi ridiculed the ‘Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024,’ which proposes assigning a district collector to supervise disputes regarding Waqf properties.

“Narendra Modi is saying that under Section 3 of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, if the government has taken over a Waqf property, then the district collector will resolve the dispute. However, how can a collector be a judge in his own case? This is against the principles of natural justice,” Owaisi said on Sunday.

“In six states, the government has seized Waqf properties. In Delhi, the government has taken over 200 Waqf properties. In such cases, will any collector acknowledge that a property is Waqf? Why would any collector pass a judgement against the government?” Owaisi added.

Owaisi further alleged that the Modi-led government “aims to take Muslim land” through the Waqf amendment.

“The Modi government aims to take away mosques, graveyards, and agricultural land under the mosque,” Owaisi said.

He also described Waqf properties as private property and criticised the Modi government for “turning it into a public matter.”

“Waqf properties are private property, not public property, given by our Muslim brothers. So why is the government making it a public matter?” Owaisi questioned.

On the issue of electing non-Muslim members to the Waqf board, Owaisi said, “The Modi government wants to appoint non-Muslim members. Now listen carefully, in UP, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Act of 1983 states that only Hindu members are eligible to be part of the board. It also says, if a Hindu member is not eligible, then another Hindu will take their place.”

The Joint Parliamentary Committee, comprising 31 members–21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha–has been tasked with thoroughly examining the bill.

Today’s meeting underscored the challenges ahead in achieving a consensus on the issue.

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha, has said that the JPC will submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the last day of the first week of the winter session of Parliament.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced during the budget session of Parliament. The government has stated that the amendments are necessary to streamline the functioning of Waqf properties and ensure better governance. Opposition parties, however, have raised concerns about potential overreach and the implications for the autonomy of Waqf institutions.