Extension Sought for Joint Parliamentary Committee’s Review of Waqf (Amendment) Bill
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha will consider a motion on Thursday seeking an extension of the Joint Parliamentary Committee’s (JPC) tenure to review the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The motion, which is set to be moved by JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal and member Dilip Saikia, requests that the committee be allowed additional time to present its report until the last day of the Budget Session in 2025.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which aims to overhaul the management and regulation of Waqf properties across India, has faced delays due to intense debates and disruptions within the JPC. The discussions have been particularly contentious, with heated exchanges between ruling BJP members and opposition leaders. Despite a 500-page draft report prepared by Chairman Jagdambika Pal, there is a consensus that further deliberations are necessary given the sensitive nature of the Bill.
On Wednesday, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey introduced a resolution proposing the extension of the JPC’s mandate, suggesting the committee submit its final report during the first week of the Budget Session.
The Bill, initially tabled in Parliament on August 8, was referred to the JPC after opposition objections. The committee, consisting of 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, has faced a series of delays in reaching a conclusion. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Waqf Act, claiming it was a product of Congress’s “appeasement politics” and not aligned with the Constitution’s vision as outlined by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
