Waqf Properties Eviction Bill of 2014 Withdrawn by the Government
New Delhi: The Indian government, on Thursday, officially withdrew the Waqf Properties (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Bill, 2014 in the Rajya Sabha. The bill, initially introduced to establish a mechanism for the eviction of unauthorised occupants from waqf properties, had been under consideration for nearly a decade.
The Waqf Properties Bill, 2014 was first introduced in the Rajya Sabha on February 18, 2014, by K Rahman Khan, the then-Minority Affairs Minister. The bill aimed to provide waqf boards with the legal tools necessary to reclaim waqf properties from illegal occupants. It proposed the establishment of an eviction mechanism to streamline the process, ensuring that the properties were returned to their rightful religious or charitable purposes.
After its introduction, the bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on March 5, 2014, for further scrutiny. Despite the bill’s intentions to protect waqf properties, it remained pending for years without significant progress, leading to its eventual withdrawal.
The government’s decision to withdraw the bill suggests a reassessment of the approach to managing waqf properties and dealing with unauthorised occupants. While the withdrawal marks the end of the 2014 bill, it raises questions about the future framework the government might adopt to address the ongoing issues concerning waqf properties.
The withdrawal reflects the complexities and sensitivities involved in legislating on matters related to religious and charitable properties, particularly those under the management of waqf boards.
FOLLOW FOR MORE.
