Latest news with #WaqfAct2025
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Uncertainty looms large over Telangana's Waqf Board's future
1 2 Hyderabad: With uncertainty looming over the existence of the Telangana Waqf Board following the amendment of the Waqf Act 2025, the state govt has sought advice legal advice from the advocate general and law department on whether the existing board should continue. According to official sources, the govt has requested guidance on the matter. Meanwhile, the minority welfare department has reportedly directed Telangana Waqf Board chairman Syed Azmatullah Husseni not to convene any board meetings until further orders. The issue came to the fore after chairman Husseni wrote a letter to the chief executive officer of the board last month, requesting that a meeting be convened. As the amended Waqf Act has come into force and there is no stay on its implementation from the Supreme Court , Telangana waqf board CEO Md Asadullah sought the opinion on the matter. Sources noted that the chairman has been forwarding files to the CEO. Officials said that under Section 14 of the amended Waqf Act, the composition of the board has undergone significant changes. While elected members are allowed to complete their terms, all nominated members are required to step down. The state govt is mandated to reconstitute the board in accordance with the new provision of Section 14. "As of now, the board comprises eight members. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Realize novos planos com o banco BV Banco BV Saiba Mais Undo While five are nominated, including the chairman, three are elected, including one from the bar council and two Muthawalis. However, as per the new Act, one Muthawali is allowed, in addition to other elected and nominated members. Moreover, as per the new Act, the elected members should be more than the nominated," a senior official of the minority welfare department said. While the state govt has been adopting a wait-and-watch approach, similar to other states like Karnataka, pending the Supreme Court's verdict on several petitions challenging the new Waqf Act. However, the recent board meetings and decisions taken by the chairman have placed the govt in a fix, prompting it to seek the opinion of the advocate general. However, the chairman, on his part, argued that the last Waqf board meeting was held in October 2024 and several public issues and grievances are still pending. He asserted that it is in the public interest to address these issues. "The board has every power to take up the issues, take decisions and pass resolutions," the chairman informed the govt.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC to hear Thursday pleas against amended Waqf law
New Delhi, The Supreme Court would on Thursday hear pleas against the constitutional validity of the Waqf Act 2025. The matter would be heard by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih. Former CJI Sanjiv Khanna, whose bench was hearing the matter, demitted office on May 13. On April 17, the top court recorded the Centre's assurance of not denotifying waqf properties, including "waqf by user", or making appointments in the central waqf council and boards till May 5. The assurance came when the apex court was informed that the law was passed by Parliament with "due deliberations" and it should not be stayed without hearing the government. The Centre opposed the apex court's proposal to pass an interim order against the denotification of waqf properties, including "waqf by user", aside from staying a provision allowing the inclusion of non-Muslims in the central waqf councils and boards. On April 25, the central ministry of minority affairs filed a preliminary 1,332-page affidavit defending the amended Waqf Act of 2025 and opposed any "blanket stay" by the court on a "law having presumption of constitutionality passed by Parliament". The Centre urged the top court to dismiss the pleas challenging the validity of the Waqf Act, 2025, pointing out a "mischievous false narrative" surrounding certain provisions. The Centre urged the bench not to stay the law's provisions and claimed a "shocking increase" of 116 per cent in the waqf properties since 2013 The affidavit rebutted the submissions that Muslims might be in the minority in the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards due to the change in the law. Justifying a provision on "waqf by user" properties, it said any interference would create a "legislative regime by a judicial order". Waqf by user refers to a practice where a property is recognised as a religious or charitable endowment based on its long-term, uninterrupted use for such purposes, even if there isn't a formal and written declaration of waqf by the owner. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has accused the Centre of submitting incorrect data in the top court and sought action against the officer concerned for filing a "false affidavit". The board expressed serious reservations against the government claiming a "shocking increase" in the number of waqf properties uploaded in the central portal post 2013. The Centre notified the Waqf Act, 2025 after it got President Droupadi Murmu's assent on April 5.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Legal ambiguity clouds T Waqf Board after 2025 Act amendment
1 2 3 Hyderabad: The Telangana Waqf Board is currently facing uncertainty regarding its legal status following the amendment of the Waqf Act 2025 , which was passed by Parliament last month. While board chairman Syed Azmatullah Hussaini is pushing to convene a meeting of the board, the state govt is unsure whether the existing board is legally valid under the amended to section 14 of the amended Waqf Act, the composition of state Waqf Boards has been comprehensively restructured. Official sources indicate that, under the new provisions, only elected members are permitted to complete their term, while all nominated members must step down. As a result, the state govt is required to reconstitute the board in accordance with the updated law."The current board, constituted under the repealed section 14, no longer holds any lawful or constitutional authority to conduct meetings or make decisions, as doing so would violate the spirit of the amended Act," a senior official from the minority welfare department said. Operation Sindoor PM Modi meets NSA, chiefs of armed forces amid spike in tensions with Pak India's air defence systems shoot down Pak drones in J&K, Punjab & Rajasthan Several airports in India to be closed till May 15 - check list Although the matter is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court, there is no stay or status quo order in place, the official this, the board chairman recently wrote to the chief executive officer of the board, requesting that a meeting be convened within two weeks to address various pending issues. Some govt officials emphasised that once a law is passed by Parliament, it becomes the law of the land, and all statutory bodies are obliged to comply. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scarlett Johansson, 40, Shows Off Her Real Size In A New Vacation Photos 33 Bridges Undo "Refusing to abide by the law constitutes contempt of the legislature and could even invite criminal action," said a senior sources expressed concern that holding a meeting without reconstituting the board to reflect the new legal requirements—particularly regarding the inclusion of new members—would not only violate the amended Act but could also be construed as contempt of Parliament. They cautioned that the state govt could be required to justify its actions to the Centre, and that the chief secretary might even be summoned if the meeting proceeds without his communication, the chairman pointed out that the last meeting of the Waqf Board was held in Oct 2024, and that several public issues and grievances remain unresolved. He argued that the board retains the authority to address such matters and make decisions in the public the chairman's letter, sources indicate that CEO Mohammed Asadullah has forwarded the matter to the state govt for further direction. Chief minister A Revanth Reddy, who holds the minority welfare portfolio, is expected to seek legal advice before making a decision on whether the meeting can legally be held.
