MPs Request Extension for Waqf Bill Joint Committee’s Tenure Amid Concerns Over Incomplete Deliberations
Members of Parliament, including Asaduddin Owaisi, submitted a request to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday, seeking an extension of the Joint Parliamentary Committee’s (JPC) tenure for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. In their letter, the MPs highlighted that despite 25 sittings since August, several key state governments, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, have not presented before the committee, and numerous stakeholders are still awaiting an opportunity to be heard. The MPs emphasized that the bill, which involves significant changes to laws impacting a large segment of India’s population, requires further deliberation to ensure thorough consultation. Speaker Birla has assured that the request will be reviewed.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced by the Modi government, seeks to streamline the registration of Waqf properties and rename the Waqf Act of 1995. The bill has sparked debate among opposition and Muslim organizations, leading to the formation of the JPC to further examine the legislation.
