JPC Clears Waqf Amendment Bill with 14 Changes; Opposition MPs Reject Proposed Revisions

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 27th Jan. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) cleared the Waqf Amendment Bill on Monday afternoon, approving 14 changes to the draft tabled in the House in August last year. Opposition MPs on the committee, led by Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Jagadambika Pal, had proposed 44 amendments, all of which were rejected during the deliberations.

The JPC had initially been asked to submit its report by November 29, 2024, but the deadline has now been extended to February 13, the final day of the Parliament’s Budget Session. The committee, which was set up to study the amendments, has held several hearings; however, many of them have ended in chaos after opposition MPs accused the Chair of bias towards the ruling BJP.

Last week, opposition MPs raised concerns with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, claiming that Jagadambika Pal was attempting to “steamroll” the Waqf Amendment Bill through the committee. This came after 10 opposition MPs were suspended for allegedly not being given adequate time to study the proposed changes. Among the suspended MPs were Trinamool Congress’ Kalyan Banerjee and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi, both of whom are vocal critics of the Waqf Amendment Bill.

In a dramatic incident in October, Banerjee smashed a glass bottle on the table in a heated exchange with Pal. Banerjee later explained that BJP MP and former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay had provoked him with verbal abuse towards his family.

The Waqf Amendment Bill proposes several changes to the administration of Waqf boards, including the nomination of non-Muslim and at least two women members. The amendments also call for the central Waqf Council to include a union minister, three MPs, two ex-judges, four people of ‘national repute’, and senior government officials — none of whom need to be from the Islamic faith.

Further, the proposed amendments would prevent the Waqf Council from claiming land. The changes also limit donations from Muslims who have been practicing their faith for at least five years, a provision that sparked controversy over the term “practicing Muslim.”

Sources indicate that the intention behind these amendments is to empower Muslim women and children who have been historically marginalized under the old law. However, critics, including Congress leader KC Venugopal, have denounced the amendments as a “direct attack on freedom of religion.” Owaisi and DMK leader Kanimozhi have argued that the proposed changes violate multiple sections of the Indian Constitution, including Article 15 (the right to practice a religion of one’s choice) and Article 30 (the right of minority communities to establish and administer their educational institutions).

As the bill continues to generate heated debate, all eyes are now on the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament to see whether the proposed amendments will gain further traction or face additional opposition.