In a significant legal development, Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of the AIMIM, has approached the Supreme Court of India seeking intervention against the government’s proposed Waqf Bill. The Bill, which aims to reform the administration of Waqf properties, has been met with fierce opposition from Owaisi, who claims that it will undermine the religious rights of Muslims.
The Waqf Bill proposes to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 and establish a more centralized system for the governance of Waqf properties. The government has argued that the Bill is necessary to ensure better transparency and accountability in the management of these properties, which are often seen as being mismanaged or underutilized.
However, Owaisi contends that the Bill would give the government too much control over the management of Waqf assets, potentially violating the rights of the Muslim community to manage their own religious affairs. He has argued that the Bill could pave the way for government interference in the functioning of Waqf Boards, thus weakening their autonomy.
In his petition, Owaisi has called for a judicial review of the Bill, seeking a stay on its implementation until the court can assess its constitutional validity. The case is now set to be heard by the Supreme Court, with legal experts predicting that the outcome could have a significant impact on the relationship between religion and the state in India.