• By Imran Zafar
  • Sun, 02 Feb 2025 08:03 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Parliament Budget Session 2025: The report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be presented in the Lok Sabha on Monday. According to a bulletin from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Committee Chairman Jagdambika Pal and member Sanjay Jaiswal will table the report.

The panel had submitted the report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday after adopting it by a 15-11 majority vote the previous day. The report includes changes suggested by BJP members, leading to criticism from the opposition, which accused the government of trying to undermine Waqf boards.

The JPC chairman has been accused of bias by opposition members, who also allege that the proceedings were rushed in order to influence the political narrative in Delhi ahead of Assembly elections. Opposition members also submitted dissent notes, arguing that the amendments interfere with the constitutional rights of the Muslim community.

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Changes In Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024

One of the significant revisions in the bill shifts the authority to determine Waqf property status from the District Collector to a state-appointed officer. Previously, this responsibility was handled by survey commissioners and additional commissioners under the Waqf Act of 1995.

Another contentious change involves the composition of the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards. Initially, the bill required two non-Muslim members on these boards, but the JPC revised the clause, making their inclusion optional and expanding the board to three members, including a scholar.

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BJP members have defended the bill, stating that it aims to modernise and bring transparency to the management of Waqf properties. However, opposition leaders argue that the amendments encroach upon minority rights and were passed without adequate consultation.

The first part of the Budget session will continue until February 13, with the second phase resuming on March 10 after a recess. The session is expected to conclude on April 4.