New Delhi [India], January 24: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill convened in Delhi on Friday, with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the prominent cleric of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema, expressing hopes that the decision on the Waqf issue would not be rushed, leaving Muslims in the country feeling marginalized.
Mirwaiz Farooq emphasized that the Waqf board issue is critical for the future of Muslims and that a detailed memorandum has been prepared to present their concerns in a structured manner. He specifically mentioned that Jammu and Kashmir, being a Muslim-majority state, has unique concerns that need to be addressed during the discussions.
“This issue is directly linked to the future of Muslims. We hope the JPC members will understand our concerns and address them carefully, without haste,” Farooq told ANI. He also expressed concern about maintaining harmony, especially given the sensitive nature of topics related to mosques and temples. “We hope no decisions are made that could disrupt the atmosphere of brotherhood,” he added.
Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the JPC, stated that the committee would hear from Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and his delegation on Friday. A meeting for a clause-by-clause discussion of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be held on January 27, with a final adoption of the clauses scheduled for January 29. The committee aims to present its report during the upcoming budget session of Parliament.
“Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has requested to meet the committee, and we will listen to his concerns today. We are aiming to prepare a comprehensive report and hope to finalize the clauses by January 29,” Pal said.
The JPC’s discussions on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which started in the Parliament House Annexe, will continue through the day, with a lunch break. The committee will also hear from other stakeholders, including “Lawyers for Justice,” who will present their views on the bill.
The committee is set to hold another sitting on January 27 to go over the bill’s provisions in detail. This will be the last meeting before the report is presented to Parliament during the budget session, which begins on January 31.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to address longstanding issues related to the Waqf Act of 1995, such as corruption, mismanagement, and encroachments on Waqf properties. Key reforms proposed in the bill include digitization of records, enhanced audits, increased transparency, and stronger legal mechanisms to reclaim encroached properties. The committee’s work is seen as a crucial step in overhauling the management of Waqf properties and ensuring their proper use for the benefit of the Muslim community.