New Delhi [India], January 30: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, has officially submitted its final report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, marking a significant step forward in the legislative process.
JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal, along with committee members Nishikant Dubey, Tejashwi Surya, Sanjay Jaiswal, and others, attended the submission. However, opposition members were notably absent during the report’s presentation.
During the submission, Pal praised the contributions of the committee members, emphasizing the thoroughness of the report, which came after months of detailed discussions and cross-examinations. “Over the past five months, we held 38 meetings, met 250 delegations, and consulted former judges and vice-chancellors. This report reflects careful deliberation and addresses the concerns surrounding Waqf management,” he stated.
Pal added that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was designed with the welfare of the poor in mind, particularly to benefit underprivileged Muslim families. He also addressed the absence of opposition MPs, noting that they had participated actively in important meetings and voting sessions.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also commended the committee’s work, stating that no other committee had done as much work as this one. “The committee received 1.5 crore representations and held 38 meetings. This bill is a groundbreaking step for the rights of poor Muslim families and will end vote-bank politics,” Dubey remarked.
BJP MP Tejashwi Surya highlighted the importance of the bill in bringing transparency, accountability, and professionalism to the management of Waqf properties. “For a long time, Waqf properties were mismanaged and encroached upon. The new bill will address these issues by introducing reforms such as digitization, enhanced audits, and mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties,” he said.
The JPC had previously adopted the draft report and the revised bill, and opposition leaders submitted dissent notes on the report. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which incorporates 25 amendments across 14 clauses/sections, is expected to be introduced during the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament, which begins on January 31.
The Waqf Act of 1995, aimed at regulating Waqf properties, has been criticized for issues such as corruption, mismanagement, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to address these challenges by introducing reforms that improve transparency and legal mechanisms for reclaiming unlawfully occupied properties.