- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Thu, 27 Feb 2025 09:38 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposed amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 after incorporating changes recommended by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The amendments proposed by lawmakers from the BJP and other NDA members have been accepted, while the ones suggested by opposition MPs were rejected.
The cabinet nod has paved the way for the bill to be tabled for discussion and passage in the second half of Parliament's Budget Session.
A total of 66 amendments were proposed in the bill by MPs from both the opposition and the ruling party. Of these, 44 changes were proposed by opposition MPs, while 23 were put forward by MPs from the ruling coalition. Out of the ruling party's proposed amendments, 14 were accepted, while all of the opposition's recommendations were rejected.
Changes to the Waqf Bill
Among the 14 changes to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August 2024, one mandates the inclusion of at least two non-Muslim members in both the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards.
Additionally, the amendments distinguish between the mandatory non-Muslim members and nominated ex-officio members, who may be either Muslim or non-Muslim. Consequently, waqf councils at both state and national levels will have at least two, and potentially more, members from non-Islamic faiths, depending on the composition of the nominated ex-officio members.
Another change in the bill suggests that the authority to investigate waqf-related disputes would shift from district collectors to senior state government appointees, aiming for a more streamlined and efficient resolution process.
The third change included elimination of the ‘Waqf by User’ provision for future cases, allowing only existing "Registered Waqf by User" properties to be recognized as waqf. This change gained signals of red flags by Congress Leader and JPC member Imran Masood stating that an estimated 90 per cent of waqf properties are not registered, reported NDTV.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in August 2024 and subsequently referred to the JPC for detailed examination after opposition from the Indian Bloc.