New Delhi [India], January 27: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has approved 14 amendments to the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, despite strong objections from Opposition parties. The decision was made following a majority vote, with 16 members supporting the amendments and 10 opposing them.
JPC Chairperson Jagdambika Pal explained that the committee had discussed 44 proposed amendments over a six-month period, and the final meeting led to the approval of 14 amendments based on the majority vote. “We have had detailed discussions with amendments suggested by both the government and opposition. After thorough deliberations, the amendments were put to vote, with 16 votes in favor and 10 against,” Pal stated.
The Waqf Amendment Bill aims to overhaul the Waqf Act of 1995, which governs the management of Waqf properties in India. The bill has been contentious, with Opposition parties alleging that it undermines the rights of Muslims and the federal structure of India.
BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi highlighted the extensive discussions held by the JPC, noting that over 284 stakeholders were consulted and more than 108 hours were dedicated to the deliberations. “The process was democratic, with every proposal debated and voted upon. The Opposition proposed amendments to 43 of the government’s proposals, and all were put to a vote,” Sarangi said, adding that despite ruckus from Opposition MPs, the bill was deliberated thoroughly.
Opposition members, however, criticized the proceedings, accusing the JPC of rushing through the amendments without proper discussion. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee said, “They didn’t allow us to speak, and no rules or procedures were followed. All our amendments were rejected, and the Chairman bulldozed the process. This was a farce, and a black day for democracy.”
Congress MP Naseer Hussain claimed that most stakeholders involved in the JPC meetings had opposed the bill, while Samajwadi Party MP Mohibullah called the process a “mockery.” Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant added that the amendments were put to a vote without any clause-by-clause discussion. “There was no explanation for the proposed amendments. This was a rushed proceeding, and we will submit a dissent note when the draft report is released,” Sawant said.
The Waqf Amendment Bill includes significant changes, such as transferring the authority to determine Waqf property from the District Collector to a designated officer from the state government. Additionally, the bill originally required at least two non-Muslim members in the State Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council, but this provision has been modified to state that only two of the nominated members must be non-Muslim.
The final draft report of the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is expected to be released on January 29.