OakBridge Insights into The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995 By K K Khandelwal 1st Edition May 2025

Insights into The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995

Insights into The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995 (now popularly known as the UMEED Act) is a comprehensive legal commentary by Dr. K. K. Khandelwal. It explores the landmark transformation of India’s waqf administration following the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

​Core Themes of the 2025 Reform

• ​Modernization & Transparency: The Act shifts toward digitization and centralized registration of properties to curb mismanagement and historical irregularities.
• Inclusivity: Mandates the inclusion of women and non-Muslim members in Central and State Waqf Boards to ensure diverse representation.
• Legal Reorientation: Abolishes the “waqf-by-user” doctrine, requiring formal declarations and ensuring that government properties are not wrongly claimed as waqf.
• Protection of Rights: Specifically safeguards the inheritance rights of women, children, and heirs before a property can be dedicated as waqf.

​What the Book Offers

• ​Section-by-Section Analysis: Meticulously breaks down the principal 1995 Act alongside the 2025 amendments, explaining legislative intent and practical legal application.
• JPC Insights: Incorporates deliberations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), providing readers with the “why” behind the new laws.
• ​Complete Legal Toolkit: Includes the full text of related legislation, such as:

1. ​The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Act, 2025 (which replaced the century-old 1923 Act).
2. ​The Central Waqf Council Rules and Property Lease Rules

About The Author

Dr K K Khandelwal, IAS (R), LLB, LLM, PhD (Law), is engineer, legal expert, author, and academician. He currently serves as the Chief National Commissioner of the Bharat Scouts and Guides in New Delhi. Prior to this, he held the position of Chairman of the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority in Gurugram.