Rajya Sabha passes Wakf amendment bill

Rajya Sabha on Monday passed a bill that seeks to prevent misuse of Wakf properties and make them commercially viable by providing for their leasing.

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha Monday passed a bill that seeks to prevent misuse of Wakf properties and make them commercially viable by providing for their leasing.

Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan said the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2011 will prevent misuse of wakf (charitable endowments) properties. He said the bill provides for penal action against public servants who fail to prevent encroachment of Wakf properties. The bill was earlier passed by Lok Sabha. It was, however, referred to a select committee when it came up in Rajya Sabha. Khan lauded the efforts of select committee as well as the Joint Parliamentary Committee which suggested several amendments. The amended bill will now go back to the Lok Sabha for consideration and passage. IANS