The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Monday approved the Waqf Amendment Bill, which aims to introduce 44 changes in the management of Muslim charitable properties in India. The bill, originally tabled in the House in August 2023, underwent discussions and revisions, resulting in 14 amendments being incorporated into the final draft. A total of 66 amendments had been proposed, with 23 from the ruling BJP and 44 from opposition members.
Despite the significant opposition to certain provisions, the proposed amendments from the opposition were largely rejected. The JPC, led by BJP MP Jagadambika Pal, voted along party lines, with 16 BJP and allied MPs supporting the approved amendments and 10 opposition MPs voting against them.
The final voting to confirm the 14 accepted amendments will take place on January 29, and the committee aims to submit its final report by January 31, according to sources. Although the committee was initially given a deadline of November 29 to file its report, the deadline was extended to February 13, the final day of Parliament’s Budget Session.
In a statement, Mr. Pal explained that 44 amendments were discussed over six months of detailed deliberations, with the committee members seeking input from all parties. The opposition’s suggested amendments were put to a vote, but they failed to garner enough support. He further mentioned that there were claims of bias by opposition MPs, but he emphasized his efforts to listen to all members.
The JPC’s deliberations have been marred by controversy, with opposition MPs accusing the chair of attempting to “steamroll” the Waqf Amendment Bill through Parliament. Last week, opposition MPs wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, voicing concerns over the lack of time to review the proposed changes and the suspension of 10 MPs, including Kalyan Banerjee from the Trinamool Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. Banerjee had earlier created a stir in October when he broke a glass bottle in protest against BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s remarks about his family.
The Waqf Amendment Bill proposes significant changes to the administration of Waqf boards, including the nomination of non-Muslim and at least two female members to the boards. The bill also suggests that the central Waqf Council include a union minister, three MPs, two former judges, four people of national repute, and senior government officials, none of whom need to be from the Islamic faith.
Additionally, the bill seeks to restrict donations to the Waqf from Muslims who have practiced the faith for at least five years, a provision that has sparked controversy due to concerns over the definition of a “practicing Muslim.” Supporters of the amendment argue that it will empower Muslim women and children who have been disadvantaged under the previous law. However, critics, including opposition leaders like Congress’ KC Venugopal, view it as a “direct attack on freedom of religion.”
Opposition leaders, including Owaisi and DMK’s Kanimozhi, have argued that the bill violates multiple provisions of the Constitution, such as Article 15, which protects the right to practice any religion, and Article 30, which guarantees minority communities the right to establish and administer educational institutions.
