Dear Friends

Further to the successful Two day National Seminar on “AWQAF IN INDIA” on July 25 – 26, 2015 which concluded with Bangalore Declaration on Auqaf, entrusting me with the responsibility to establish an NGO to carry forward the implementation of Bangalore declaration on Auqaf, a draft of the objectives of the NGO and the type of NGO to be formed was circulated among the core group who drafted the Bangalore declaration for their suggestions. Based on the feedback and suggestions so received necessary steps were taken for the formation of the NGO.

I am happy that a “Not for Profit” Company “INDIAN AUQAF FOUNDATION” has been registered under the provision of section 8 of the Indian companies Act 2013. The organisation will have four categories of Memberships i.e. 1) Patron Members (2) Life Members (3) Associate Members (4) Institutional Members

I have been a keen student of Auqaf in India and I am associated with matters relating to Auqaf from the last 40 years. I became member of Karnataka State Waqf Board in 1976.  Since then I have served as a Member of Central Waqf Council twice, member of Karnataka Waqf Board thrice, Chairman of Central Waqf Council and Chairman of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf which brought out a comprehensive report on Waqf. I had the good fortune of participating in the debate on passing of the Waqf Act, 1995 and persuading the Govt to accept one of my amendments in the Waqf Act 1995. Again it was my privilege to move the Waqf Amendment Bill 2013 in the Parliament introducing far reaching Amendments to the Waqf Act 1995 as Union Minister of Minority Affairs.

Auqaf in India has a long history of over 800 years. The very purpose of creating a Waqf and dedicating movable or immovable properties for religious and charitable cause is a noble charitable act and is being done to earn the acceptance of Allah (swt). In effect Allah (swt) is the owner of all Waqf properties as they are dedicated to Him. It is for this reason, that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has declared that 'Once a Waqf, Always a Waqf'. Nobody can change its character. These assets should be used for the benefit of the Muslims in particular and humanity in general. Hence the duty of all of us is to protect, preserve and improve these properties so that the income is used for the purposes for which they are dedicated.

In India Waqf properties and their management are regulated through a statute which is the Waqf Act. The first major steps to legislate the Law were Wakf Act, 1954, and the Waqf Act, 1995. The Wakf Act, 1995 has been amended in 2013 with far reaching provisions to protect, preserve and develop the Waqf properties for the benefit of those for whom they are intended.

The Waqf Boards in respective states of India are the regulatory bodies. They have fairly good legislative mechanism but unfortunately the Waqf administration is in shambles. The Waqf Boards have become political chess-boards in the hands of the state Governments. These state Governments have abdicated their responsibilities to protect the Waqf properties. More than 2 lakh acres of valuable Waqf lands are under illegal occupation and encroachment.  The State Waqf Boards have no resources to fence the properties and fight litigations.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act 2013 is an attempt to give more teeth to the Waqf Boards to retrieve Waqf properties, from illegal occupation, encroachment and to develop them to increase the income of Auqaf. The new leasing rules of Waqf properties will help in increasing the income of the Waqf institutions tenfold. The new role assigned to the Central Waqf Council will also help in designing uniform policies and control for Waqf administration and act as deterrent to the erring Waqf Boards. The newly created National Waqf Development Corporation (NAWADCO) which came into being during my period as Cabinet Minister of Minority Affairs with 500 crore Rupees rolling fund will further accelerate the development of the Waqf properties.

The Indian Auqaf Foundation is Just born and InshaAllah in future the foundation will prove to be a real guardian and protector of Auqaf in India and will strive hard by formulating strategies to implement the Waqf Act effectively and by creating public awareness and its involvement in protecting the Waqf properties and developing them for the religious, socio-economic and educational development of the community.

I seek the support, encouragement and participation of people from all walks of life. May Allah show us right path and give us strength and energy in achieving the noble objectives of the Indian Auqaf Founation -  Ameen.