Omkar Dattatray
After much deliberations, discussions and hiccup the controversial Waqf Amendment bill which had been submitted to joint parliamentary committee has finally on expected lines approved the waqf bill with 14 amendments and with this breakthrough the decks has been cleared for the passage of this bill in the parliament. Thus JPC clears Waqf Bill with 14 Amendments, paving way for reform of the Waqf board and its properties. The JPC has approved the waqf Amendment Bill after through scrutiny, passing 14 amendments proposed by BJP-led NDA members .JPC report tabled in both houses of parliament amid uproar despite the governments defense, opposition members demanded the inclusion of dissent note ,raising concerns about transparency and potential impact on Waqf boards. Opposition parties especially the Congress is doing appeasement and vote bank politics and is thus opposing the JPC report. The opposition members created ruckus in both houses of parliament. In a significant political development HM Amit Shah said that government has no objection about attaching the dissent note to the JPC report. Now the noisy scenes created by the opposition should cease as their demand has been accepted by the government. There should be constructive and fruitful debate and discussion on the JPC report and the Waqf Amendment bill should be passed in the best interest of the country. The Joint Parliamentary Committee’s report on the Waqf -Amendment bill faced strong opposition in both houses of parliament. Desipte The bill which seeks to reform the administration of waqf boards across India was cleared with a 16-10 vote, with 16 NDA members in favor and 10 from the opposition opposing. A few days ago the JPC has finally officially approved amendments to the Waqf Bill and has handed over the JPC report/amendments to speaker and the Waqf bill will be tabled in parliament in its budget session.It is the triumph of the BJP-led NDA government which originally piloted the waqf bill which turned into a piece of controversial bill due to the opposition and criticism of the opposition parties that is INDIA Bloc. The Waqf Bill aims to reform waqf board administration. The waqf Amendment Bill is part of an effort to modernize and streamline Waqf board administration, addressing concerns over the proper management of Muslim charitable endowments in the country. A total of 66 amendments were proposed during the JPC’s deliberations ,including 23 from the ruling BJP and 44 from opposition parties.JPC Chairman and BJP MP Jagdmbika Pal confirmed the clearance ,stating that after six months of extensive discussions ,the committee had come to a final decision .”The amendments were put to vote and 16 voted in favor ,with 10 voting against. ”Pal stated.BJP MP and JPC member Aparajita Sarangi said that after inclusive and democratic deliberations where held before clearing the approval of the bill. The approval of the Waqf Amendment Bill is seen as a crucial step towards reforming the management of Waqf properties across India. However ,the JPC’s meetings have been marked by controversy ,with the Opposition accusing the committee chairman of bias and hurrying the process to influence upcoming Assembly elections. The Waqf Amendment bill seeks to overhaul the Waqf Act of 1995,which governs the management of waqf properties in India. Parliamentary panel accepted 32 amendments moved by BJP and its allies. The opposition is politicking the approval of the amendments to Waqf Bill. It has alleged that the JPC hurried the approval of the amendments only with the eye on the ongoing Assembly elections of the states. Opposition MP’s have issued a statement claiming no clause -by-clause discussion was permitted by the Chairperson. Amid oppositions complaint that its voice was not heard, the JPC on Waqf Amendment Bill accepted 32 out of more than 500amendments moved, after a vote. With the BJP and its allies having numerical majority ,all amendments moved by them were accepted at the JPC meeting .All the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected. The bill originally proposed to remove the concept of ”Waqf by User ,”under which properties are deemed waqf based solely owing to their long use for religious purposes. The move set off a massive outrage owing to the fear that it would endanger several religious structures that have been in use for generations. Offering a concession ,BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s amendment ,accepted by the Panel, said the ”Waqf by user” would remain waqf properties ,except those in ”dispute or government facilities .”However amendment made it clear that such existing properties must be registered before the new law came into force. Among the other amendments adopted by the panel include the decision to do away with vesting any inquiry into the disputes over a government property with the District Collector concerned. The amendment proposed by BJP MP Brij Lal said the ”state government may by notification ,designate an officer above the rank of collector ”to carry out an inquiry ,as per law. This provision was also questioned by Muslim bodies, which had pointed out that the collector who is also the head of revenue records,cannot be an impartial judge to such disputes. One of the biggest objections was an on inclusion of non-Muslims to the waqf Board .The BJP -led NDA appears to be united as all modifications suggested by the NDA members to waqf [Amendment ] Bill 2024 were approved by the JPC. This will boost the BJP’s confidence in getting the Bill passed in the House ,since BJP ,on its own ,does not have a majority as it won only 240 of 543 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha election .BJP’s allies like Nitish Kumar-led Janta Dal United-JD[U] and Chandrababu Naidu -led TDP had also proposed several amendments which were supported by all NDA parties.This indicates that NDA parties approve of the revised version of the Bill following the amendments ,as opposed to their stance in August 2024 when JD-U ,LoK Janshakti Party -Ram Vilas , and TDP maintained a ”neutral ”position. The BJP will need the crucial votes of 16 TDP members ,12 JD-U members and five LJP-RV members for the bill to pass in Lok Sabha. Minor NDA allies such as RLD -with two members ,JDS -also with two members will also have a significant role. The JPC’s final meeting is set for Wednesday ,where the main topic of discussion will be the ” review and approval of the preliminary report on the waqf Amendment Bill 2024.Members of the opposition parties are expected to prepare dissenting notes, which will included in the committee report. This report is anticipated to be presented during the first half of the Budget session. The objective of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 ,is to amend the Waqf Act,1995 ,to redress the issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties. The Amendment Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of waqf boards. There was much opposition to the waqf amendment bill 2024 by the INDIA opposition bloc and there was also much hue and cry in the Muslim community and its self styled leaders. Thus the bill in question was sent to Joint parliamentary committee. The JPC deliberate ,discussed and debated the bill and the amendments to the bill where moved by the BJP, its allies and the opposition parties. While all most all amendments moved by NDA where accepted and those of the opposition parties rejected. Thus the Waqf Amendment Bill has been approved by JPC recently. This approval of the waqf amendment bill by the JPC was termed by the opposition parties as the exercise in hurry and with the BJP’s eye on the ongoing assembly polls. Now the formal approval was also decided in a meeting of the JPC .After it the Waqf Amendment bill stands tabled along with JPC report in budget session of the parliament and it is likely to be passed in both the houses of the parliament and will become a law which will reform,modernize and transform and revolutionize the administration and management of the Waqf Board and its properties.
(The author is a columnist, social, KP activist)