No entry for new Waqf Act, reaffirms TN minister Shahjahan

CHENNAI: Minister for Minorities Welfare AM Shahjahan on Monday asserted that the State government would not implement the new Waqf Act passed by the BJP-led central government, maintaining that provisions enabling the appointment of non-Muslims to Waqf Boards would not be enforced in Tamil Nadu.

Talking to reporters at the airport, the minister said the amended legislation had not been implemented in any State so far and reiterated that Tamil Nadu would continue with the existing framework governing Waqf administration.

"The new Waqf Act was not implemented earlier in Tamil Nadu and it will not be implemented now as well," Shahjahan said.

Referring to provisions relating to the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Waqf Board, he said such appointments had not been carried out in Tamil Nadu and will not be implemented in future either.

The Minister also flagged issues in uploading Waqf properties on the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal mandated under the amended Act.

He said several practical and procedural difficulties had emerged during the process of uploading Waqf property details and added that the State government would urge the Centre to extend the deadline prescribed for the exercise.

"With the deadline for uploading Waqf properties having ended, resolutions will be adopted seeking an extension of time from the Union government," he said.

Shahjahan made the remarks after receiving the first batch of Hajj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia.

A total of 417 pilgrims arrived in Chennai from Saudi Arabia. The minister said 6,295 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu had undertaken the Hajj pilgrimage this year. He also said the Haj House, being constructed near the Chennai airport at a cost of Rs 40 crore, was expected to become operational in 2027.