The Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 today adopted its draft report. Talking to media in New Delhi, the Chairman of the 31-member panel, Jagdambika Pal, said the Committee has adopted amendments to 14 clauses related to the Bill. He added that the report of the Committee will be submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Tomorrow. Mr Pal highlighted that there were detailed deliberations on the bill in the last six months.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to bring significant reforms, including digitisation of records, stricter audits, increased transparency and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied Waqf properties. The Bill is aimed at reforming the management and regulation of Waqf properties across the country.
Meanwhile, opposition members in the panel questioned the adoption of the report. DMK MP, A Raja said, the report was adopted hurriedly. Naseer Hussain of Congress said several objections and suggestions made by them have not been included in the report. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, Shiv Sena UBT MP Arvind Sawant other opposition MPs said that they have submitted their dissent note.
