Waqf Amendment Bill: Parliament Panel Adopts Recommendations, Opposition MPs Dissent

The Joint Committee of Parliament scrutinising the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday adopted its draft report and the amended version of the proposed law with a majority vote, JPC chairperson Jagdambika Pal said. MPs have been given time till 4:00 p.m. to submit their dissent.

Opposition MPs, some of whom have given their dissent, slammed the exercise as undemocratic, claiming that they were given little time to study the final report and frame their dissent notes.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said all opposition members will give their dissent.

Pal is likely to submit the amended version of the proposed law to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Aug. 8, 2024, following its introduction in the Lok Sabha by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.

The Bill aims to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to address issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties.