India, April 3 -- The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a comprehensive amendment to the Waqf Act, bringing about fundamental changes in the governance, management and legal status of waqf properties in India. The proposed amendments seek to introduce stricter regulations on property dedication to waqf, remove the controversial "waqf by user" provision for future cases, authorise senior government officials to survey and investigate waqf properties, and introduce non-Muslim representation in waqf boards.

While the government has justified these changes as necessary to enhance transparency, curb mismanagement and ensure better regulation of waqf properties, the move has sparked intense debate, with many critics and the Opposition parties argu...