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Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid mentioned on Monday that government is in the process of finalizing a bill which will ensure that the Wakf boards present across India will function in a streamlined fashion. He mentioned that the bill will be introduced during Parliament’s winter session.
"The ministry of law has given its final shape to it (the draft bill for amending the Wakf Act, 1999). We will introduce it in the next session of parliament”, said Khurshid while addressing the media after a Central Wakf Council meeting, held in New Delhi. The meeting had been organized for discussing issues related to minority welfare.
Khurshid mentioned that the Central Wakf Council will be empowered to function independently. Central Wakf Council acts as the intermediary body between state Wakf boards and central government.
"Since financial condition of many Wakf boards is not very promising, we have also stepped in to give small aid and grants from the central government. But for this the boards will have to accept certain conditions regarding their management," he said.
There are 27 Wakf boards in the country, functioning under different state governments. Haryana and Punjab have a joint Wakf board.
The proposed bill is being introduced on the recommendations of a joint parliamentary committee and adheres to the Sachar Committee policies.
