The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is set to be presented in the Lok Sabha on Monday. According to an official bulletin from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Committee Chairman Jagdambika Pal and member Sanjay Jaiswal will table the report in the House. The committee had earlier submitted the report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday,as per a report by the Times of India.
Adopted by the JPC on Wednesday, the report includes changes recommended by members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). It also comprises records of evidence presented before the committee during discussions on the Bill. The JPC, after six months of deliberations, approved the final draft of the Bill, incorporating 14 amendments proposed by BJP-led NDA members. The amendments were passed through a majority vote, with 16 members supporting them and 10 opposing.
Speaking to reporters, JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal confirmed that a total of 44 amendments were discussed clause by clause. While opposition members also proposed changes, these were rejected with 16 votes against and 10 in favor. Pal described the approval of 14 amendments as the outcome of detailed consultations and deliberations.
The Waqf Amendment Bill seeks to make significant changes to the Waqf Act of 1995, which governs the administration and management of Waqf properties in India. However, the proposed amendments have sparked controversy, with opposition parties accusing the government of attempting to weaken the autonomy of Waqf boards and undermine the rights of the Muslim community.
Opposition leaders argue that the Bill is an effort to assert government control over Waqf properties, posing a threat to the federal structure of the country. They claim that it interferes with the functioning of Waqf boards and curtails their authority. On the other hand, BJP members defend the proposed amendments, asserting that they aim to introduce transparency, modernize Waqf management, and prevent misappropriation of Waqf assets.
With the JPC report now set to be tabled in Parliament, the Waqf Amendment Bill is likely to generate heated debate, as lawmakers from both sides prepare to present their arguments over its implications.
