By IANS,
New Delhi : Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Monday said a bill to streamline the functioning of Wakf boards across the country is in its final stage and will be introduced in the winter session of parliament.
“The ministry of law has given its final shape to it (the draft bill for amending the Wakf Act, 1999). We will introduce it in the next session of parliament,” Khurshid told reporters after a meeting of the Central Wakf Council where many issues related to welfare of minorities were discussed.
The minister said the introduction of the bill will empower the Central Wakf Council, which is an intermediary body between the central government and Wakf boards in different states.
“Since financial condition of many Wakf boards is not very promising, we have also stepped in to give small aid and grants from the central government. But for this the boards will have to accept certain conditions regarding their management,” he said.
There are 27 Wakf boards in the country, functioning under different state governments. Haryana and Punjab have a joint Wakf board.
The proposed bill is being introduced on the recommendations of a joint parliamentary committee and is in line with the measures suggested by the Sachar Committee.