Cabinet Approves Waqf Amendments Cleared By Joint Parliamentary Committee
New Delhi: Amid strong opposition, the Union Cabinet has approved the changes proposed by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The Bill was referred to the Committee in August last year and had presented its report on February 13. The Committee which also includes opposition MPs staunchly slammed the report, noting that their dissents were completely discarded. Meanwhile, the opposition also alleged that the proposals submitted by the BJP MPs were all accepted.
The Committee head, BJP MP Jagadambika Pal were accused of bias and rushing the bill without proper consultation. However, it is reported that that the dissent notes would be included in their original (and entire) form, which was decided following a meeting between Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and protesting opposition MPs.
Read Also: ‘Anti-Democratic’: Opposition Rejects Joint Parliamentary Committee Report On Waqf Bill
The amended bill now likely be tabled when the House reconvenes on March 10. The JPC comprising 16 MPs from BJP and allied parties, and 10 from the opposition, proposed 66 changes. Notably, out of the total 66, all 44 proposals from the opposition were rejected, provoking the MPs further. Among the 23 changes that were accepted, after a vote, 14 were cleared.
What Are Key Changes Made By JPC To Waqf Bill
A total of 14 changes were cleared by the JPC. One of the key controversial changes in the bill is the mandatory nomination of two non-Muslim members to every Waqf Board, which has been opposed by the opposition and Muslim bodies, calling it a religious affair supposed to be managed by its followers.
One change, which was made, is directing an officer nominated by the concerned state to determine if a property is ‘waqf.’ The decision to determine if a property is Waqf was left to the District Collector in the original Waqf Bill.
Another change is that the law will not apply retrospectively, so long as the property in question is already registered. As the large portions of Waqf properties are not registered, as many states are yet to make a comprehensive survey, Congress MP and JPC member raised a question over its misuse. It is also reported that the change included the establishment of separate Waqf Boards for Aghakhani and Bohra communities.
Another change is reportedly about women’s inheritance rights. A person who donates his property to Waqf can only do it after ensuring that female heirs receive their rightful share.
Many provisions of the Waqf Bill, introduced last year by the Union Government, were contentious to the the Muslim bodies and Opposition parties. The government had introduced the bill claiming to empower Muslims including the women who allegedly suffered under the old law. The opposition, including Congress, SP among other parties have asserted that the amendments to the Waqf Bill is a direct attack on the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion.
Read Also: JPC Clears Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, Opposition Protests
Critics have pointed out the violations of Article 15 (the right to practice a religion of one’s choice) and Article 30 (the right to minority communities to establish and administer their educational institutions) in the proposed amendments to the Waqf Bill.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill proposes a complete overhaul of the governance of Waqf boards, which manages properties donated for religious and charitable purposes by the Muslim community. One of the key controversial provision in the proposed amendment bill was the arbitration by a government official to decide whether a property is Waqf property or not.
