Waqf Bill Moves Forward with NDA’s 14 Amendments Accepted

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, took a significant step towards becoming law as the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) cleared it on Monday, accepting all 14 amendments proposed by the BJP-led NDA and rejecting all opposition amendments.

Introduced by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, the bill seeks to modernize the regulation and management of Waqf properties under the Waqf Act of 1995. After extensive review, JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal announced that the committee had conducted a meticulous clause-by-clause examination, where opposition members had suggested changes across 44 clauses.

However, the voting within the committee resulted in the approval of only the NDA’s proposals. One of the pivotal changes includes removing the ability to challenge Waqf properties on the basis of ‘Waqf by user’, effectively protecting religious-use properties from legal disputes over their status.

The process drew sharp criticism from opposition MPs who accused the JPC chairman of undermining democracy. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee labelled the session as “farcical” and claimed their voices were not heard, describing Pal’s leadership as dictatorial.

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In defense, Pal argued that the process was democratic, highlighting that amendments were openly voted on, and the majority’s decision prevailed. He stated, “I asked all members whether they are moving the amendments. They said they will be moving the amendments. There can’t be anything more democratic than this.”

This development has sparked a debate on the balance between majority ruling and minority representation in legislative processes. With the bill now moving closer to becoming law, the focus shifts to how these amendments will affect Waqf property management and the broader implications for religious and minority rights in India.

As the bill heads back to Parliament, it will be interesting to see how these contentious amendments play out in the national discourse, especially in terms of governance, property rights, and the political tug-of-war between the ruling and opposition parties.