Team News Riveting
New Delhi, February 2
The report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be presented in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
According to a bulletin from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Committee Chairman Jagdambika Pal and member Sanjay Jaiswal will table the report. The panel submitted the report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday after adopting it by a 15-11 majority vote the previous day.
The report includes changes suggested by BJP members, leading to criticism from the opposition that accused the government of trying to undermine Waqf boards. The JPC chairman has been charged of bias by opposition members, who also allege that the proceedings were rushed in order to influence the political narrative in Delhi ahead of Assembly elections.
Opposition members also submitted dissent notes, arguing that the amendments interfere with the constitutional rights of the Muslim community.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal said, “We have adopted the report and the amended revised bill. For the first time, we have included a section stating that the benefits of Waqf should go to the marginalized, poor, women, and orphans and we will present this report to the Speaker.”
“We had 44 clauses before us, out of which amendments were proposed by members in 14 clauses. We conducted a majority vote, and these amendments were then adopted,” he added.
However, the JPC’s actions sparked criticism from opposition leaders. The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address these challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.
BJP members have defended the bill, stating that it aims to modernise and bring transparency to the management of Waqf properties. However, opposition leaders argue that the amendments encroach upon minority rights and were passed without adequate consultation.
The first part of the Budget session will continue until February 13, with the second phase resuming on March 10 after a recess. The session is expected to conclude on April 4.
