The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), considering the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, has recommended the government to bring a law to prevent tribal land from declaring the ‘Waqf’ property. JPC says that there have been many cases ‘pose a serious threat’ for the ‘existence of these cultural minorities’. JPC accepted the draft report and will present it to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on 30 January.
On Monday (27 January 2025), the panel accepted the amendments suggested by the ruling NDA MPs, while the amendments of the opposition MPs rejected the amendments. These amendments include appointing an officer above the post of Collector to settle disputes and restoring a person who knows Muslim law as the third member in the tribunal.
Deccan Herald’s report, quoting sources on the draft report, said that there were several cases of announcement of Waqf land in tribal areas under the Schedule V and Schedule VI of the Constitution. Those who are pose a serious threat to the existence of these cultural minorities, whose religious practices are different and do not follow the religious practices prescribed under Islam.
JPC in Waqf Boards in Bill Non-Muslims There is also no problem in the provision that includes the provisions, as they may be beneficiaries, parties in disputes or otherwise interested in Waqf cases. It states that the proposal will make it a more wider base and will promote inclusion and diversity in Waqf property management.
At the same time, a draft report was distributed among the members of the panel on Tuesday (28 January 2025). Opposition MPs criticized the meeting called a meeting to adopt the report, saying that it is not possible for them to read 655 pages reports in a few hours, participate in discussions and prepare disagreeing notes.
The report quoted sources as saying, “The number of land acquired by the Waqf Board and the number of cases underlines the immediate need to remove this serious concern.” The panel said that ST is one of the most marginalized and weaker sections of the society. Therefore, security envisaged in the constitution should be retained at all costs.
In the case of tenants on Waqf properties, the panel advocated the need to adopt a sympathetic view while making lease rules. Tenant organizations had expressed concern that they were considered encroachers, while they are legally occupying assets and paying rent by Waqf Board.
It states, “Between the Waqf Board and the tenants Symbiocratic and harmonious Promoting the relationship will ensure prosperity of Waqf properties. Therefore, the committee recommends that the ministry may consider the concerns of Waqf tenants across the country and enact laws that allow long -term leases to protect their valid rights. ”
JPC President Jagdambika Pal said, “For the first time we have included a section, stating that the benefits of Waqf should be given to the marginalized people, poor, women and orphans. Tomorrow, we will submit this report to the speaker. We had 44 sections in front of us, out of which members proposed amendments in 14. We voted with a majority and then these amendments were accepted. ”
BJP leader Radha Mohan Das Aggarwal said that the report on the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed by 11 out of 14 votes. Various parties have presented their disagreement notes. BJP MP Tejashwi Surya said that the government’s intention is to bring modernity, transparency and accountability in the management of Waqf properties. Along with this, the misuse of law is to be prevented by vested interests.
At the same time, Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM, one of those opposing this report, said that when this bill is discussed in Parliament during the budget session, he will oppose it. He said, “Last night we were given a draft report of 655 pages and it is humanly impossible for anyone to read such a long report in such a short time and give our opinion. Still we tried and presented our disagreement report. ”
Owaisi further said, “It is not in favor of Waqf. I am saying from the beginning that BJP is its own Ideology This bill has been brought against Muslims. It aims to damage the Waqf Board and capture their mosques. If Hindus, Sikhs and Christians can keep members of their religion in their respective boards, then how can Muslim Waqf Board have non-Muslim members? ”
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee said, “I have expressed my disagreement… The statements of the victims have not been considered in this. What we said during the discussion were not considered… The question arises as to why the Chairman did not like the stakeholders who expressed the attitude of the stakeholders. According to me, the proceedings of JPC have become a joke. “
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said, “Till yesterday people used to come through elections, but now you are removing elections. People will be nominated there and the central government will do this work. If the government can change the law related to the Election Commission, then what will it do here? Today, there is a provision to bring non-Muslims in Waqf, so tomorrow they can do the same in our temples (bring non-Hindus), because the issue of equality in the constitution will come. ”
