Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 21: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill held its final field visit meeting in Lucknow on Tuesday, gathering input from various stakeholders, including members of the Shia and Sunni Waqf Boards and the Minority Commission.
Before the meeting, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, expressed confidence that the committee would address their concerns. He stated, “Today, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill has come to Lucknow. We, members of various Muslim organizations, are presenting our points, and we trust that our issues will be heard and acted upon accordingly.”
Rajya Sabha MP and JPC member Brij Lal confirmed that this session marks the final phase of the committee’s field visits. He mentioned that the JPC would gather suggestions from all stakeholders, including the Waqf Boards, and then submit a report to Parliament through JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal.
Brij Lal added, “We have conducted meetings in several states, and this is the final phase of our field visits. We are collecting input from all stakeholders, including the Shia and Sunni Waqf Boards, as well as the Minority Commission. After compiling the suggestions, the JPC Chairman will present the report to Parliament.”
Jagdambika Pal, BJP MP and Chairman of the JPC, expressed optimism about reaching a consensus on the committee’s report and confirmed that it would be presented during the upcoming budget session. He shared, “The JPC has been holding meetings across the country for the past six months. We are confident that we will come to a consensus and present the report during the budget session.”
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to address issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments in Waqf properties by implementing reforms such as digitization, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied land.
The budget session of Parliament is set to begin on January 31 and will run until April 4, with the Union Budget scheduled for presentation on February 1. The JPC’s report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is expected to be submitted during this session.