Waqf JPC: The parliamentary committee not satisfied with the information of three states including Madhya Pradesh, asked for details again in 15 days

The Joint Parliamentary Committee reviewing the Waqf Amendment Bill recorded oral evidence from the state representatives. However, the committee is not satisfied with the answers given by Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh regarding the status of Waqf property. Now the Parliamentary Committee has given 15 days to the representatives of the three states to respond.

On Thursday, the Parliamentary Committee discussed with the representatives of the states regarding the status of Waqf property. Committee Chairman Jagdambika Pal said that we have sought details about Waqf properties from the states. In this, information has been sought about the registration of properties with the government, a listing of properties based on user and registry income from such properties, and measures to change their nature. However, the answers given by the representatives of the three states were not satisfactory, we have given them 15 days to respond. If required, they will be called again. These states did not respond in the format issued by the Department of Minority Affairs.

Chairman Pal said that the committee will visit Kolkata, Patna, and Lucknow from January 18 to 20 and talk to various stakeholders. He said that some members have expressed their desire to visit Jammu and Kashmir. A decision in this regard will be taken after consultation with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Tenure extended in Lok Sabha.

The tenure of the committee constituted for the Waqf Amendment Bill has been extended till the last day of the Budget Session 2025. The Lok Sabha approved this proposal. The committee was to submit its report by the end of this week. In the matter, the chairman of the committee, Jagdambika Pal, says that all the members of the committee agree that the tenure of the JPC should be extended.

What is the whole matter?

On August 8, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the 'Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024' in the Lok Sabha. Along with this, the 'Muslim Waqf (Repeal) Bill, 2024' was also introduced to remove the old inactive act related to it from the papers. The name of the new bill will be the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act. Unified Work Management Empowerment Efficient and Development i.e. 'Umeed' in English. This bill was strongly opposed by the opposition. After that on August 9, it was sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Parliament for further discussion.