Officials prepare to roll out new waqf law despite govt opposition

Bengaluru: While the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill, also known as the Umeed Act, winds its way through Parliament, Karnataka's Waqf Board and Council, anticipating its passage in both Houses, have begun preparations to implement its provisions.Sources say the Waqf Central Council and the ministry of minority affairs has already set schedules for training and implementation of the new Waqf land declaration system across states. "We expect teams to land in the state towards the end of this month and begin training our state officials," said staff at the Waqf Board and Central Council.Officials revealed that these central govt teams will be joined by a special team from IIT Delhi who will train Karnataka officials to use a newly developed portal to record waqf property details and relevant documentation. Additionally, the Waqf Central Council has initiated "back channels" with Muthavallis to prepare them for the new regulations, despite the Karnataka govt passing a resolution demanding the bill's rollback."As far as our understanding goes, the new bill will supersede any decisions by the state legislature, including the resolution passed by it, and will have to be implemented at some point very soon," said officials. The entire system is expected to be operational within three months in line with the proposed legislation.However, the state govt remains firm in its opposition, asserting that the bill will not be implemented in the state. Minority welfare minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan reaffirmed this stance earlier this week. "Our govt and the state legislature have already taken a decision that the Waqf Amendment Bill is unacceptable," he said.Sources from his office said the state govt has already formed a new Waqf Board, which, they claim, cannot be superseded in enforcing the law. Khan is also said to have sought details of the bill tabled in Parliament on Wednesday to gain a deeper understanding of its implications.With both state and central authorities holding firm to their positions, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining how the implementation process unfolds in Karnataka.