Stalin wants relook of BJP’s Waqf violations

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s interim order staying key provisions of the amendments made by the Union Government to the Waqf Act.

In a statement, Stalin said the court had restrained the operation of four major provisions challenged by the DMK and other petitioners. These include the clause requiring five years of mandatory practice of Islam before dedicating property as Waqf, the power to seize Waqf property on the basis of an allegation that it is government land until a designated officer’s report or government decision, the Collector’s authority to denotify “Waqf by user” (property deemed Waqf due to long-standing religious use), and the inclusion of more than four non-Muslim members in the Central Waqf Board or more than three in the State Waqf Boards.

Stalin said the order marks a significant step towards reviewing the Constitutional validity of the amendments brought by the BJP government. He recalled that the DMK had opposed the Bill since its introduction in Parliament and later joined other petitioners in challenging it before the Supreme Court. The Assembly, had also passed a resolution against provisions.