The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is set to hold its first meeting on August 22 at the Parliament House Annexe in New Delhi.
The committee, chaired by BJP member Jagdambika Pal, will be briefed by representatives from the Minority Affairs Ministry and the Law Ministry about the bill and its proposed amendments.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, introduced during the recent budget session of Parliament, was referred to the JPC for further scrutiny. The committee consists of 31 members, with 21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.
The bill proposes significant changes to the existing Waqf Act of 1995, including renaming it as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
One of the primary amendments is the clear definition of "waqf" as the dedication of property by a person practising Islam for at least five years, who has ownership of the property. This is intended to prevent the creation of Waqf-alal-aulad from infringing on the inheritance rights of women.
The bill also seeks to remove provisions related to "waqf by user" and assign the duties of the Survey Commissioner to the Collector or an officer of at least the rank of Deputy Collector for the survey of waqf properties.
Additionally, it proposes a broad-based composition of the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards, ensuring representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims.
Another key proposal is the establishment of a separate Board of Auqaf for Bohras and Agha Khanis. The bill aims to reform the Tribunal structure, introducing a two-member panel and allowing for appeals against Tribunal orders to be made to the High Court within ninety days.
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha, stated that the JPC is expected to submit its report by the end of the first week of the winter session of Parliament.
The upcoming meeting will be crucial as it sets the stage for the committee's detailed examination of the bill, which could bring about significant reforms in the management and regulation of waqf properties in India.
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