'58,929 occupied... but Waqf has many rights to protect the properties', the government told the powers of the board in the Lok Sabha.

The Central Government on Wednesday (November 27, 2024) told the Lok Sabha that a total of 58,929 Waqf properties in the country are facing encroachment, out of which 869 are in Karnataka. Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju gave this information in a written reply to a question by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Basavaraj Bommai. He also said that under the Waqf Act, the State Waqf Board also has the right to take legal action to ensure protection, security and justice for such properties.

Kiren Rijiju said that the Ministry and the Central Waqf Council (CWC) have received complaints from time to time about various issues related to Waqf properties. He said that such complaints were forwarded to the State Waqf Boards and the concerned governments for appropriate action. He said, 'According to the details available on Waqf Assets Management System of India (WAMSI), 58,929 Waqf properties are facing encroachment, out of which 869 such Waqf properties are in Karnataka.

Kiren Rijiju's office has posted about Waqf law, in which the office said that according to Section 54 and 55 of the Waqf Act, the Chief Executive Officer of the State Waqf Boards has the power to take legal action against unauthorized occupation and encroachment on Waqf property. Then Section 51 (1-A) says that Waqf does not have the right to sell, gift, exchange, mortgage or transfer the property, but still if Waqf feels that developing the property will help in achieving the goals of the Act, then they will have to give reasons for this and present it after getting it approved by two-thirds of the members of the board.

The post further said that the Central Government has made the Properties Lease Rules, 2014 under Section 56 of the Waqf Act, which empowers the State Waqf Board to lease out Waqf properties. It was further informed that the Central Waqf Council (CWC) keeps receiving complaints from time to time regarding Waqf properties and such complaints have been forwarded to the concerned State Waqf Boards and State Governments so that they can take action on these complaints.