The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), considering the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, accepted its report on Wednesday by majority, containing suggestions made by members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Opposition members termed it unconstitutional and alleged that the step would destroy the Waqf boards.
The report of the committee headed by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal was approved by 15 votes against 11. Opposition members have given notes of disagreement. BJP members emphasized that the bill introduced in the Lok Sabha in August last year is going to try to bring modernity, transparency and accountability in the management of Waqf properties, while the opposition attacked it on the constitutional rights of the Muslim community and the Waqf boards. Described the intervention in the functioning of
After the 38th meeting of the committee, Pal told reporters that the report will be presented to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday and it would be laid on the floor of the House in both houses of Parliament during the budget session starting on Friday. A major concern of the opposition was the appointment of non-Muslims in the Waqf Board. He claimed that it is a violation of Article 26 of the Constitution, which gives citizens the freedom to manage its religious affairs, including establishment and maintenance of institutions for religious and charitable purposes.
Congress MP Imran Masood said, ‘You have violated our rights given under Article 26 of the Constitution. You talked about the Uniform Civil Code, but the ‘Hindu Endowment Board’, Sikh Board, Christian Board do not have non-Hindu, non-Sikh and non-Christian members. But why is it not for Muslims? This is an attempt to destroy Waqf boards.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that the proposed law would destroy the Waqf boards and make a way to the government’s intervention in its functioning.