First meeting of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 begins in New Delhi

The first meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 is underway in New Delhi. The committee is headed by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal and has 31 members.

21 Members are from the Lok Sabha and 10 members from the Rajya Sabha. The Committee has been tasked by the Lok Sabha to scrutinize the bill. Officials from the Ministry of Minority Affairs and Ministry of Law and Justice are briefing the Members about the various amendments proposed in the draft law.        

 Speaking to the media ahead of the meeting, Mr Pal said, they will give maximum opportunities to the maximum number of people from minority organizations while discussing the provisions of the bill.

He said, government has a specific purpose for bringing this bill that the properties handed to the Waqf should help the backward Muslims and women.

Mr Pal said the Committee will discuss all the 44 amendments and bring a good and comprehensive legislation by next session of Parliament.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is intended to overcome the shortcomings and to enhance the efficiency of the administration and management of the waqf properties.

The Bill has provision of renaming of the Waqf Act, 1995 as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

It also provides the functions of the Survey Commissioner to the Collector or any other officer not below the rank of Deputy Collector duly nominated by the Collector for the survey of waqf properties.

It also has provision of a broad based composition of the Central Waqf Council and the State Waqf Boards and ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims.

It also provides for the establishment of a separate Board of Auqaf for Boharas and Agha Khanis, and representation of Shia, Sunni, Bohra, Agakhani and other backward classes among Muslim communities.

The Bill also has provisions for reforming the Tribunal structure with two members and providing for appeals against the orders of the Tribunal to the High Court within a specified period of ninety days.