Section 72 of The Waqf Act, 1995 View Chapter 7

Annual contribution payable to Board.

(1) The mutawalli of every 1 [waqf], the net annual income of which is not less than five thousand rupees, shall pay annually, out of the net annual income derived by the 1 [waqf], such contributions, not exceeding seven per cent. of such annual income, as may be prescribed, to the Board for the services rendered by such Board to the 1 [waqf].

Explanation I .--For the purposes of this Act, "net annual income" shall mean the gross income of the 1 [waqf] from all sources, including nazars and offerings which do not amount to contributions to the corpus of the 2 [auqaf], in a year after deducting therefrom the following, namely:--

(i) the land revenue paid by it to the Government;

(ii) the rates, cesses, taxes and licence fees, paid by it to the Government or any local authority;

(iii) expenditure incurred for all or any of the 3 [in respect of lands directly under cultivation by the mutawalli for the benefit of the waqf], namely:--

(a) maintenance of, or repairs to, irrigation works, which shall not include the capital cost of irrigation;

(b) seeds or seedlings;

(c) manure;

(d) purchase and maintenance of agricultural implements;

(e) purchase and maintenance of cattle for cultivation;

(f) wages for ploughing, watering, sowing, transplanting, harvesting, threshing and other agricultural operations:

Provided that the total deduction in respect of an expenditure incurred under this clause shall not exceed 4 [twenty per cent.] of the income derived from lands belonging to the 1 [waqf]:

5 [Provided further that no such deduction shall be permitted in respect of waqf land given on lease, by whatever name called, whether batai or share cropping or any other name.]

(iv) expenditure on sundry repairs to rented buildings, not exceeding five per cent. of the annual rent derived therefrom, or the actual expenditure, whichever is less;

(v) sale proceeds of immovable properties or rights relating to, or arising out of immovable properties, if such proceeds are reinvested to earn income for the 6 [waqf]:

Provided that the following items of receipts shall not be deemed to be income for the purposes of this section, namely:--

(a) advances and deposits recovered and loans taken or recovered;

(b) deposits made as security by employees, lessees or contractors and other deposits, if any;

(c) withdrawals from banks or of investments;

(d) amounts recovered towards costs awarded by courts;

(e) sale proceeds of religious books and publications where such sales are undertaken as an un-remunerative enterprise with a view to propagating religion;

(f) donations in cash or kind or offerings made by the donors as contribution to the corpus of the 6 [waqf]:

Provided that interest on income, if any, accruing from such donations or offerings shall be taken into account in calculating the gross annual income;

(g) voluntary contributions received in cash or kind for a specific service to be performed by the 6 [waqf] and expended on such service;

(h) audit recoveries;

Explanation II.--In determining the net annual income for the purposes of this section, only the net profit derived by any 6 [waqf] from its remunerative undertakings, if any, shall be taken as income, and in respect of its non-remunerative undertakings, such as, schools, colleges, hospitals, poor homes, orphanages or any other similar institutions, the grants given by the Government or any local authority or donations received from the public or fees collected from the pupils of educational institutions shall not be taken as income.

(2) The Board may in the case of any mosque or orphanage or any particular 6 [waqf] reduce or remit such contribution for such time as it thinks fit.

(3) The mutawalli of a 6 [waqf] may realise the contributions payable by him under sub-section (1) from the various persons entitled to received any pecuniary or other material benefit from the 6 [waqf], but the sum realisable from any one of such persons shall not exceed such amount as shall bear to the total contribution payable, the same proportion, as the value of the benefits receivable by such person bears to the entire net annual income of the 6 [waqf]:

Provided that if there is any income of the 6 [waqf] available in excess of the amount payable as dues under this Act, other than as the contribution under sub-section (1), and in excess of the amount payable under the 6 [waqf] deed, the contribution shall be paid out of such income.

(4) The contribution payable under sub-section (1) in respect of a 6 [waqf] shall, subject to the prior payment of any dues to the Government or any local authority or of any other statutory first charge on the 6 [waqf] property or the income thereof, be a first charge on the income of the 6 [waqf] and shall be recoverable, on a certificate issued by the Board after giving the mutawalli concerned an opportunity of being heard, as an arrear of land revenue.

(5) If a mutawalli realises the income of the 7 [waqf] and refuses to pay or does not pay such contribution, he shall also be personally liable for such contribution which may be realised from his person or property in the manner aforesaid.

(6) Where, after the commencement of this Act, the mutawalli of a 7 [waqf] fails to submit a return of the net annual income of the 7 [waqf] within the time specified therefor or submits a return which, in the opinion of the Chief Executive Officer is incorrect or false in any material particular, or which does not comply with the provisions of this Act or any rule or order made thereunder, the Chief Executive Officer may assess the net annual income of the 7 [waqf] to the best of his judgment or revise the net annual income as shown in the return submitted by the mutawalli and the net annual income as so assessed or revised shall be deemed to be the net annual income of the 7 [waqf] for the purposes of this section:

Provided that no assessment of net annual income or revision of return submitted by mutawalli shall be made except after giving a notice to the mutawalli calling upon him to show cause, within the time specified in the notice, as to why such assessment or revision of the return shall not be made and every such assessment or revision shall be made after considering the reply if any, given by the mutawalli.

(7) Any mutawalli who is aggrieved by the assessment or revision made by the Chief Executive Officer, under sub-section (6), may prefer an appeal to the Board within thirty days from the date of the receipt of the assessment or revision of return and the Board may, after giving the appellant a reasonable opportunity of being heard, confirm, reverse or modify the assessment or revision or the return and the decision of the Board thereon shall be final.

(8) If, for any reason, the contribution or any portion thereof leviable under this section has escaped assessment in any year, whether before or after the commencement of this Act, the Chief Executive Officer may, within five years from the last date of the year to which such escaped assessment relates serve upon the mutawalli a notice assessing him with the contribution or portion thereof which had escaped assessment, and demanding payment thereof within thirty days from the date of service of such notice, and the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, shall, as far as may be, apply as if the assessments were made under this Act, in the first instance.

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Footnote -

1. Subs. by Act 27 of 2013, s. 4, for "wakf" (w.e.f. 1-11-2013).

2. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for "wakfs" (w.e.f. 1-11-2013).

3. Subs. by s. 41, ibid., for "following purposes" (w.e.f. 1-11-2013).

4. Subs. by s. 41, ibid., for "ten per cent." (w.e.f. 1-11-2013).

5. Ins. by Act 27 of 2013, s. 41 (w.e.f. 1-11-2013).

6. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for "wakf" (w.e.f. 1-11-2013).

7. Subs. by Act 27 of 2013, s. 4, for "wakf" (w.e.f. 1-11-2013).