The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Monday approved the Waqf Amendment Bill, which was introduced in Parliament last August, after adopting 14 amendments. The amendments, largely proposed by BJP-led NDA members, were cleared following a detailed clause-by-clause review. However, the process has been overshadowed by allegations of procedural violations from opposition parties.
A major amendment to the bill removes the “Waqf by user” provision, which previously allowed the questioning of Waqf properties based on their religious use. The revised bill ensures that such properties will not be challenged if used for religious purposes.
JPC Chairman Ja Pal defended the amendments, asserting that they would strengthen the law and improve the management of Waqf properties. He emphasized the democratic nature of the proceedings, noting that opposition members had the opportunity to propose amendments to all 44 clauses, though their suggestions were not adopted.
Opposition MPs, particularly from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), strongly criticized the process. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee accused the committee chair of curbing debate and disregarding parliamentary procedures. Banerjee claimed that opposition members were not provided with necessary documents and were denied a chance to speak during the meeting. He described the proceedings as a “farce” and accused Pal of undermining democracy.
The JPC, which was initially set to submit its report by November 29, now has an extended deadline of February 13, the final day of Parliament’s Budget Session. The committee has faced repeated disruptions in previous meetings, with opposition members accusing the chair of bias in favor of the ruling party.
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