83Constitution of Tribunals, etc.

¹[(1) The State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute as many Tribunals as it may think fit, for the determination of any dispute, question or other matter relating to a waqf or waqf property, eviction of a tenant or determination of rights and obligations of the lessor and the lessee of such property, under this Act and define the local limits and jurisdiction of such Tribunals:]
³[Provided that any other Tribunal may, by notification, be declared as the Tribunal for the purposes of this Act.]
(2) Any mutawalli or person interested in a ²[waqf] or any other person aggrieved by an order made under this Act, or rules made thereunder, may make an application within the time specified in this Act or where no such time has been specified, within such time as may be prescribed, to the Tribunal for the determination of any dispute, question or other matter relating to the²[waqf]:
³[Provided that if there is no Tribunal or the Tribunal is not functioning, any aggrieved person may appeal to the High Court directly.]
(3) Where any application made under sub-section (1) relates to any ²[waqf] property which falls within the territorial limits of the jurisdiction of two or more Tribunals, such application may be made to the Tribunal within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the mutawalli or any one of the mutawallis of the ²[waqf] actually and voluntarily resides, carries on business or personally works for gain, and, where any such application is made to the Tribunal aforesaid, the other Tribunal or Tribunals having jurisdiction shall not entertain any application for the determination of such dispute, question or other matter:
Provided that the State Government may, if it is of opinion that it is expedient in the interest of the ²[waqf] or any other person interested in the ²[waqf] or the ²[waqf] property to transfer such application to any other Tribunal having jurisdiction for the determination of the dispute, question or other matter relating to such ²[waqf] or ²[waqf] property, transfer such application to any other Tribunal having jurisdiction, and, on such transfer, the Tribunal to which the application is so transferred shall deal with the application from the stage which was reached before the Tribunal from which the application has been so transferred, except where the Tribunal is of opinion that it is necessary in the interest of justice to deal with the application afresh.
⁴[⁵[(4) Every Tribunal shall consist of three members---
(a) one person, who is or has been a District Judge, who shall be the Chairman;
(b) one person, who is or has been an officer equivalent in the rank of Joint Secretary to the State Government-member;
(c) one person having knowledge of Muslim law and jurisprudence---member:
Provided that a Tribunal established under this Act, prior to the commencement of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, shall continue to function as such until the expiry of the term of office of the Chairman and the members thereof under this Act.]
(4A) The terms and conditions of appointment including the salaries and allowances payable to the Chairman and other members other than persons appointed as ex officio members shall be such as may be prescribed:]
³[Provided that tenure of the Chairman and the member shall be five years from the date of appointment or until they attain the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier.]
(5) The Tribunal shall be deemed to be a civil court and shall have the same powers as may be exercised by a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), while trying a suit, or executing a decree or order.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), the Tribunal shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed.
(7) The decision of the Tribunal shall be ⁶*** binding upon the parties to the application and it shall have the force of a decree made by a civil court.
(8) The execution of any decision of the Tribunal shall be made by the civil court to which such decision is sent for execution in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).
⁷[(9) Any person aggrieved by the order of the Tribunal, may appeal to the High Court within a period of ninety days from the date of receipt of the order of the Tribunal:]
Provided that a High Court may, on its own motion or on the application of the Board or any person aggrieved, call for and examine the records relating to any dispute, question or other matter which has been determined by the Tribunal for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of such determination and may confirm, reverse or modify such determination or pass such other order as it may think fit.