Winter session of parliament: no Waqf bill this time, JPC seeks more time to consult stakeholders during confrontation between government and Oppn | Mint

Winter Session of Parliament: The controversial bill to amend the Waqf Act is unlikely to be debated in this winter session of Parliament as the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), set up to examine the law, will ask for an extension of the November 29 deadline to present its report.

The JPC is expected to seek an extension until the last day of the next Budget session of Parliament, following a stormy meeting of the panel marked by a brief strike by opposition members on November 27. The JPC ultimately unanimously decided to ask for more time to complete its report.

JPC chairman and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Jagdambika Pal said on November 27 that he will move a resolution seeking extension of the tenure of the panel, which is examining the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2024. Opposition members on the panel have sought an extension of the Joint Committee's term to listen to more stakeholders.

“In these three months we had 29 meetings, more than 147 delegations came… We gave all organizations the opportunity. That is the mandate that the GPC had… If they (opposition MPs) think that we need to hear something more people – the way we should not boycott the meeting… I listened to what all the members had to say including Sanjay Singh, Kalyan Banerjee, Asaduddin Owaisi… I believe that tomorrow I will bring a resolution in the House of Representatives for the extension of the tenure of JPC,” Pal was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The winter session of Parliament began on November 25. The session, which ends on December 20, was marred by ruckus with opposition members demanding a discussion on the violence in Manipur and bribery allegations against the Adani group. Work in both houses was suspended for the day on Monday and Wednesday. There were no cases scheduled on Tuesday due to the events of Constitution Day.

The union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lined up 16 bills for the session, including the Waqf Act Amendment Bill. According to the Lok Sabha bulletin, five bills have been listed for introduction, consideration and approval, while 10 have been listed for consideration and approval.

Jagdambika Pal asks for extension

Pal and BJP MP Dilip Saikia are expected to move the motion to extend the time for the JPC's presentation on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to the last day of the Budget Session, 2025.

Opposition MPs walked out of the JPC meeting on Wednesday over concerns that the committee had left many state governments unheard. The protesting members accused Pal of claiming that the panel's draft report was ready. Temperatures dipped after Pal and the BJP members of the committee contacted them and indicated their willingness to push for an extension of the November 29 deadline to submit their report to Lok Sabha.

“Today, Nishikant Dubey and other members have put forward that we should invite and hear some other stakeholders, state officials… So we feel we should extend… I will consider this and then we will move a resolution to Lok Sabha tomorrow or the day after,” Pal said.

Speaking to the media after leaving the meeting, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said many stakeholders wanted to express their views.

“The mandate is that the report must be presented on November 29. How can we give it? There is a procedure that needs to be followed, but it has not been implemented. Most importantly, this committee did not visit Bihar or West Bengal. There are many stakeholders we want to make heard. Why does this committee not allow all stakeholders to participate?”

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh said filing a report before hearing all stakeholders will be inappropriate. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee said some key stakeholders have not been called. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi alleged that the proceedings were biased.

The committee is expected to visit a number of states to meet various stakeholders.

Major reforms

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2024 aims to implement sweeping reforms including digitalization, stricter audits, greater transparency and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.

The Waqf Bill was on the government's agenda during the winter session. The panel, constituted during the last session, was instructed to report no later than the last day of the first week of this session.

The controversial bill, introduced during the Monsoon session of Parliament, aims to, among other things, curtail the powers of the Waqf board. Its introduction caused an uproar in the House, and the bill was subsequently sent to a JPC for wider scrutiny.

Opposition parties have sharply criticized the bill's proposed amendments to the existing Waqf law, claiming they violate the religious rights of Muslims. The ruling BJP has claimed that the changes will bring transparency in the functioning of the Waqf boards and make them accountable.

(With input from agencies)