Parliament committee adopts revised Waqf Amendment Bill

A joint parliamentary committee on Wednesday adopted the revised 2024 Waqf Amendment Bill after a vote, PTI reported.

The committee had cleared the bill on Monday after accepting proposals by members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance. Amendments proposed by Opposition MPs were rejected.

The bill was adopted with 15 votes in favour of the committee’s draft report and 11 against.

Opposition MPs called the bill “unconstitutional” and said it would allow government interference in the religious matters of Muslims.

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Jagdambika Pal, who chaired the committee, claimed that several amendments approved by the committee address concerns raised by the Opposition, PTI reported.

Pal added that the bill would assist waqf boards in discharging their duties transparently and effectively once enacted.

A waqf is a property given for a religious, educational or charitable cause by Muslims. In India, waqfs are governed under the Waqf Act. Each state has a waqf board led by a legal entity, which is empowered to acquire, hold and transfer property. The Act was last amended in 2013.

The new amendment bill has been opposed by leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc and Muslim groups, including the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, who maintain that it violates the right to freedom of religion and the freedom to manage religious affairs.

The legislators were given till 4…

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