The Lok Sabha will discuss a motion on Thursday to extend the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, until the final day of the Budget Session, 2025. The motion will be presented by JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal and BJP MP Dilip Saikia.
The motion seeks an extension for the JPC to allow more time for discussions on the Bill, which aims to reform the management and regulation of waqf properties across India. The sensitive and contentious nature of the proposed amendments has led to heated debates and delays within the committee.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey introduced a resolution on Wednesday to extend the JPC’s deadline, suggesting the report be presented in the first week of the Budget Session. The JPC Chairman has reportedly prepared a 500-page draft report, but further deliberation is considered necessary.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was introduced on August 8, 2024, and referred to the JPC after opposition parties raised objections. The committee comprises 31 members: 21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, including 13 opposition members.
The Bill has been the subject of significant political controversy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the current Waqf Act in a recent speech, alleging it promotes “appeasement politics” and is inconsistent with the vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution. He accused the Congress of enacting the original law for vote-bank politics.
If approved, the JPC will continue its deliberations and submit its report by the extended deadline, likely during the Budget Session of 2025.
