Fact Check: AP government did not dissolve Waqf Board permanently, a new one will be reinstated soon
The central government has proposed to amend decades-old law that governs properties worth millions of rupees donated over centuries to Allah.
Claim :
Andhra Pradesh government permanently dissolved the Waqf Board.Fact :
AP government dissolved the existing Waqf board to establish a new one
The central government has proposed to amend decades-old law that governs properties worth millions of rupees donated over centuries to Allah. This bill proposes to introduce more than 40 amendments to the existing Waqf Bill.
The Waqf Bill seeks to address issues related to Waqf properties, which are religious endowments typically dedicated to charitable or religious purposes under Islamic law. These properties are managed by state and national Waqf Boards in India, often used for education, social welfare, and religious activities. However, mismanagement and lack of transparency have hindered their effectiveness, prompting the need for reform.
The bill’s introduction has been postponed due to intense debates and disruptions within the Joint Parliamentary Committee which is responsible for reviewing it. It is expected to be presented during the Budget session in February 2025.
Amidst the controversy surrounding the issue, a news that the state government of Andhra Pradesh dissolved the Waqf Board in the state is going viral with the captions like “HUGE: Andhra Pradesh Govt has PERMANENTLY DISSOLVED the WAQF Board ~ BJP ruled states can do the same. Benchmark has been set. Man of his words, Pawan Kalyan Garu, has done it under the leadership of CBN”
The users are sharing the news clip published by Times now TV channel with these captions.
Some users shared with captions like “Andhra Pradesh government strikes down the Waqf Board. There is no provision in the Constitution, which supports the existence of one in a secular India.”
Fact Check:
The claim is Misleading. The government is constituting a new state Waqf Board, it has not abolished it.
When we searched with related keywords, we found that the Andhra Paresh government has issued an order dissolving the existing state Waqf Borad as it has remained non-functional since March 2023, leading to a period of administrative stagnation. There have been 13 writ petitions challenging its validity, there has been absence of adequate representation from Sunni and Shia scholars, former MPs were not included in the board, and other reasons.
The TDP led coalition government issued an order withdrawing an earlier order issued by the previous government of YSR Congress party constituting the Waqf Board. The existing Board was constituted by the previous government in October 2023 with 11 members.
The Government’s decision to dissolve the Waqf Board came after the CEO of the state Waqf Board brought the prolonged non-functioning of the Board and the pendency of the writ petitions questioning the legality of G.O.Ms No47 dated October 21, 2023.
The factcheck division of the Andhra Pradesh took to X and refuted the claims that the Waqf Board has been permanently dissolved.
The post states “The Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board has remained non-functional since March 2023, leading to a period of administrative stagnation. The withdrawal of G.O. Ms. No. 47 became imperative due to several substantive concerns. These include 13 writ petitions challenging its validity, the absence of adequate representation from Sunni and Shia scholars, the non-inclusion of former MPs, the appointment of junior advocates without transparent criteria, questions surrounding the eligibility of certain members, and the inability to elect a chairman owing to ongoing litigation. The GoAP will take appropriate measures to address these defects and constitute a new Waqf Board at the earliest.”
Hence, the Waqf Board has been dissolved temporarily by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, it will be reinstated after addressing the defects. The claim is Misleading.
