On Monday, January 27, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, adopting all of the revisions made by BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members. The committee, chaired by Jagdambika Pal, rejected all amendments proposed by opposition members.
Pal hailed the adopted revisions, arguing they will reinforce and improve the legislation’s effectiveness. “The revisions made by NDA members to 14 of the Bill’s sections have been approved. “This will improve and strengthen the law,” he told reporters.
A notable change is the removal of regulations that allow Waqf properties to be contested under the “Waqf by user” principle if they are used for religious reasons. This provision, which was part of the old law, will be removed in the amended version.
However, opposition members strongly condemned the proceedings, accusing Pal of stifling dissenting voices. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee referred to the procedure as “farcical.” Speaking to reporters, he said, “We were not allowed to be heard.” Pal acted in a despotic way.”
Pal has however dismissed the claims, claiming that the exercise was democratic and that the majority viewpoint prevailed. “All amendments moved by opposition members—hundreds across 44 clauses—were defeated by vote,” he told.
In August of last year, the Waqf (Amendment) bill was submitted to the 21-member Joint Parliamentary Committee for review. The proposed legislation aims to modify the authority of state waqf boards, conduct surveys of waqf properties, and address encroachments through amendments to the Waqf Act of 1995.
‘Joke with the minority of country’: Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi said, “This is a joke with the minority of the country, with the Waqf Board. Constitution has been bulldozed…This makes it seem that the Bill that was brought in was just a joke…This is a process to loot the Waqf Board. Parliamentary procedure was not followed,” he alleged.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is anticipated to present its report in the upcoming Budget session, following an extension of the committee’s term during the recent winter session of Parliament.
