The “Waqf” Controversy and the Silence on “Debutter” Property: A Case of Majoritarianism?
The “Waqf” Controversy and the Silence on “Debutter” Property: A Case of Majoritarianism? The “Waqf” Controversy and the Silence on “Debutter” Property: A Case of Majoritarianism? Posted on 17th April, 2025 (GMT 18:58 hrs) ABSTRACT The article critiques the asymmetrical treatment of religious endowments in India, highlighting how Waqf properties—Muslim charitable endowments used for mosques, madrasas, graveyards, and other community purposes—have faced intense scrutiny, legal reforms, and public debates, while Hindu Debutter (or Devottara) properties, which serve similar religious functions and are fraught with similar disputes as Waqf, remain largely untouched. The article discusses the recent Waqf (Amendment) Act of 2025, renamed as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UWMEED) Act, which supposedly seeks to modernize and centralize the administration of over 870,000 Waqf properties under state-level Waqf Boards. Although issues like mismanagemen...