The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) will meet today to vote on the final amendments to the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. The JPC had already approved the bill with 14 amendments proposed by the ruling NDA, while rejecting 44 proposed changes by the Opposition. The JPC chairman, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, defended the committee's decision and stated that all amendments were put to vote and a majority of 16 voted in favor of the bill. However, the Opposition has raised objections and accused the chairman of bias and rushing the proceedings ahead of Assembly elections in the national capital.
Waqf Amendment Bill: A Saga of Contentious Amendments
The Waqf Amendment Bill, a contentious piece of legislation, has been met with resistance from the Opposition and concerns from various quarters. The bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, which governs the management of waqf properties in India.
Background
Waqf properties, in Islamic law, are those that have been dedicated for religious or charitable purposes. They are managed by waqf boards, which are statutory bodies appointed by the government. The Waqf Act, 1995, was enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to waqf properties.
Amendments Proposed in the Bill
The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2021, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 16, 2021. It proposes several amendments to the existing law, including:
Opposition to the Bill
The Opposition has raised several objections to the bill, including:
Joint Parliamentary Committee Report
The bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for examination. The JPC approved the bill with 14 amendments proposed by the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while rejecting 44 proposed changes by the Opposition.
Current Status
The JPC is scheduled to meet on March 15, 2023, to vote on the final amendments to the bill. The Opposition has objected to the timing of the meeting, arguing that it is being rushed ahead of Assembly elections in Delhi.
FAQs
The bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to reform the management and development of waqf properties in India.
The bill proposes to establish a National Waqf Development Corporation, authorize central government appointment of waqf board members, empower the central government to remove corrupt or incompetent board members, and allow for the sale or lease of waqf properties under certain conditions.
The Opposition has concerns about the bill's impact on the autonomy of waqf boards, the potential commercialization of waqf properties, and the effectiveness of the proposed National Waqf Development Corporation.
The JPC approved the bill with 14 NDA-proposed amendments, while rejecting 44 Opposition-proposed changes.
The JPC is scheduled to meet on March 15, 2023, to vote on the final amendments. The Opposition has objected to the timing of the meeting, citing concerns about rushing the process ahead of Assembly elections.
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