Waqf Administration in India
Issues and Challenges of State Waqf Boards
Abstract
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The law (Waqf Legislation) in India conceptualizes waqf as ‘the permanent dedication by any person, of any movable or immovable property for any purpose recognised by the Muslim law as pious, religious or charitable.’ The theoretical implication of creating a waqf suggests that the said property can never again change hands by inheritance, sale or seizure. The report on social, economic and educational status of Muslim community of India (2006) popularly known as “Sachar Committee Report” estimated that there are more than 4.9 lac registered waqfs in India. The total area under these properties is estimated at about six lac acres. Apart from agricultural, commercial and residential properties, waqf in India include functional/non-functional mosques, darghās (tomb or shrine of Muslim saint), khanqahās (building or space for Sufi brotherhood) maqbaras (tombs), ashoorkhanās (mourning place for Shias), qabristāns (graveyards), idghās (space to offer
Eid Prayer), imam-baras (space for prayers and gatherings for Shias) etc. But due to political apathy, encroachment, poor governance and insensitiveness of society, it has not fully survived the test of its purpose. Auqāf is meant to create a welfare and just society- a society which does not leave anybody to die hungry and ignorant. This paper will investigate the problems of waqf administration in India with a focus on the functioning of state waqf boards.
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