U.P. Sunni Waqf Board

U.P. Sunni Waqf Board

Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Acts and Policies

In news 

• The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Sunni Central Waqf Board recently condemned the demolition of a mosque in Barabanki, UP and demanded its restoration.

Key takeaways

• The UP Sunni Central Waqf Board is a body constituted under The Wakf Act, 1954.
• It manages the affairs of Sunni Muslim waqf (charity) properties, waqf institutions and the marriage records of the Sunni Muslim community of UP.

• It has been the main Muslim litigant in the Babri Masjid–Ram Janmabhoomi title dispute.

Important value additions

• A waqf (also known as wakf or hubous) is an inalienable charitable endowment under Islamic law. 
• It typically involves donating a building, plot of land or other assets for Muslim religious or charitable purposes with no intention of reclaiming the assets.
• The state waqf boards were established by the state governments in view of the provisions of Section 9(1) of the Wakf Act, 1954.
• India also has a Central Waqf Council to advise the government “on matters concerning the working of boards and the due administration of waqfs.”