Srinagar, Jan 29: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Waqf concluded its meeting with the bill being approved by a narrow margin of 14 votes to 11. Opposition members who opposed the bill have been directed to submit their dissent notes by 4 PM today.
The approval marks a significant step in the legislative process, though objections from the opposition are expected to spark further.
Notably, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill approved the draft on Monday, incorporating 14 amendments proposed by members of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
JPC Chairperson Jagdambika Pal confirmed that the amendments were adopted through a majority vote, with 16 members supporting the changes and 10 opposing them.
“44 amendments were discussed clause by clause. After six months of detailed discussions, we sought amendments from all members. This was our final meeting… 14 amendments have been accepted by the committee based on a majority vote. Opposition also proposed amendments, but these were defeated with 10 votes in support and 16 votes against,” Pal said.
The Waqf Amendment Bill seeks to overhaul the Waqf Act of 1995, which governs the management of Waqf properties in India. The bill has sparked controversy, with opposition parties claiming that it undermines the rights of Muslims and threatens India’s federal structure.
Congress MP Naseer Hussain claimed that most stakeholders who participated in the JPC deliberations opposed the bill, while Samajwadi Party MP Mohibullah described the entire procedure as a “mockery” of democracy.
“The way the procedure was concluded seems like a joke. This bill will not benefit Waqf,” Hussain said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant echoed similar concerns, stating that the amendments were put to a vote directly without any meaningful discussion. “The amendments we proposed were never explained, just voted on. We will submit a dissent note when the draft report is released on January 29,” Sawant said.
Congress MP Imran Masood accused the ruling party of attempting to seize Waqf properties, calling the bill a complete “ruin” for the Waqf system.
Despite the opposition’s objections, the JPC’s approved amendments bring significant changes to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. One key change is that the bill now designates a state government officer, rather than the District Collector, to determine if a property is a Waqf property. Additionally, the bill’s provision requiring at least two non-Muslim members on the State Waqf Boards and Central Waqf Council has been modified to specify that these members must be non-Muslims.(KNS)
