On January 27, the Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC) approved the changes in the Waqf Bill. JPC Chairperson Jagdambika Pal said that the committee discussed all 44 amendments in the final meeting. Of these, 14 suggestions of NDA MP were approved, and all the changes suggested by the opposition were rejected. Subsequently, the draft report will be distributed to the Waqf panel members on 28th January. A final report comprising over 500 pages, will then be formally adopted on January 29, the date set for the next meeting. After formal adoption, it will be submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker by 31st January. The previous date of submission of the report was November 29, but the deadline has been extended to the last day of the budget, which is February 13.
A total of 66 proposals for changes were placed before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, of which 22 proposals were submitted by ruling BJP MPs and 44 by opposition MPs. After extensive discussion on these proposals, the Parliamentary panel voted on the resolutions.
BJP and NDA have a total of 16 MPs in the committee, while the opposition has 10 MPs. When these amendments were voted on, all 16 MPs from the ruling party voted in favour of the proposed changes, while only 10 opposition MPs voted for the 44 amendments they moved. This means that all the opposition’s amendments were rejected by the majority of a 16 against 10 votes.
Committee chairperson Jagdambika Pal said after the meeting, “44 amendments were discussed clause by clause. After six months of detailed discussions, we sought amendments from all members. This was our final meeting… 14 amendments have been accepted by the committee based on a majority vote. Opposition also proposed amendments, but these were defeated with 10 votes in support and 16 votes against.”
#WATCH | After the meeting of the JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, its Chairman BJP MP Jagdambika Pal says, “…44 amendments were discussed. After detailed discussions over the course of 6 months, we sought amendments from all members. This was our final meeting… So, 14… pic.twitter.com/LEcFXr8ENP
— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is scheduled to present its report during the budget session. The tenure of the committee was extended during the winter session of Parliament. The Waqf Act 1995, intended to regularise Waqf properties, has been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption and encroachment.
Also Read: JPC Chairman slam TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee over controversial ‘Waqf Property’ remark
In August last year, the Waqf (Amendment) bill was referred to the 26-member JPC. The legislation seeks to bring changes to the powers of state waqf boards, a survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments by amending the Waqf Act of 1995.
JPC chairperson Jagdambika Pal said after the meeting that the amendments adopted by the committee may prove to make the law better and more effective.
Two Major Proposed Amendments
Old Waqf Board Law
- The decision of the Waqf Tribunal is final and cannot be challenged.
- Women and people of other religions cannot be included as members of the Waqf Board.
New Waqf Board Law
- Now, the decision of the Waqf Tribunal can be appealed in the High Court.
- The Waqf Board has to include two women and two people from other religions as members of the board.
