JPC clears Waqf (Amendment) Bill, approves 14 amendments

New Delhi: The Joint Parliamentary Committee on Monday cleared the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and approved 14 amendments, despite the Opposition’s objections, which termed it to “subverting the democratic processes.”
Speaking to the reporters after the meeting, JPC Chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal said, “The amendments moved by the NDA members in 14 of the Bill’s clauses have been accepted”.
He added 44 amendments were discussed. After detailed discussions over the course of 6 months, we sought amendments from all members. This was our final meeting… So, 14 amendments have been accepted by the committee on the basis of a majority”.
“Opposition too had suggested amendments. We moved each and every of those amendments & it was put to vote but there were 10 votes supporting theirs and 16 votes opposing it” Pal said.
“Opposition members moved hundreds of amendments in all 44 clauses and all of them were defeated by vote, the JPC Chairman added.
Slamming the move, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee alleged that the meeting is trying to “Subverting” the democratic processes” by not accepting the amendments proposed by the opposition MPs.
“It was a farcical exercise. We were not heard. Pal has acted in a dictatorial manner”, Banerjee said.
In August last year, the Waqf (Amendment) bill was referred to the 21-member JPC. The legislation seeks to bring changes to the powers of state waqf boards, survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments by amending the Waqf Act, 1995.
Speaking about the meeting Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said , “There were 44 resolutions and discussion and voting was held on each one of them along with amendments”
He added, “Opposition was against each resolution but their objection did not get the majority of the votes. We added 14 resolutions in the bill and the final draft will be presented to us on 29th January”.
SP MP Mohibbullah Nadvi said, “This is a joke with the minority of the country, with the Waqf Board. Constitution has been bulldozed. This makes it seem that the Bill that was brought in was just a joke…This is a process to loot Waqf Board. Parliamentary procedure was not followed.”
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is aimed at addressing the challenges and bringing reformative changes like legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties, improved transparency, enhanced audits and digitisation.
The Waqf Act of 1995 was enacted to regulate Waqf properties and has faced criticism for corruption, encroachments and mismanagement.