Jagdambika Pal Leads JPC on Waqf Amendment Bill 2024
The Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Jagdambika Pal, announced that the committee will meet in Delhi on November 21, 2024. The report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, will be presented during the winter session of Parliament. Despite discussions with stakeholders, some religious leaders, like Tauqeer Raza Khan, oppose the bill.
Jagdambika Pal urged leaders to avoid divisive politics and instead participate in the committee’s discussions. The Lok Sabha Secretariat had earlier announced a study tour for the committee across five Indian cities: Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Patna, and Lucknow, from November 9 to November 14, 2024. This tour is part of the examination process for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aimed at understanding the bill’s implications on managing Waqf properties in India.
The JPC plans to submit its report by the first week of the Winter Session, which runs from November 25 to December 20, 2024. The committee’s work is part of a national effort to reform the Waqf Act for the benefit of the community. Since August 22, 2024, the JPC has conducted 25 meetings, reviewing six ministries and consulting 123 stakeholders, including representatives from six states, eight Waqf boards, and four minority commissions.
Doubts Revealed
Jagdambika Pal -: Jagdambika Pal is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. He is responsible for leading discussions and meetings about this bill.
JPC -: JPC stands for Joint Parliamentary Committee. It is a group of members from both houses of the Indian Parliament who come together to discuss and examine specific issues or bills, like the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.
Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 -: The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 is a proposed change to the existing Waqf Act, which deals with properties and assets donated for religious or charitable purposes in Islam. The amendment aims to update or improve the current laws.
Winter Session -: The Winter Session is one of the sessions of the Indian Parliament, usually held in November and December. During this time, members discuss and pass laws, including reports like the one on the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Study tour -: A study tour is a trip taken by the committee members to different places to gather information and understand the impact of the bill. In this case, the JPC visited five cities to see how the Waqf Amendment Bill might affect those areas.
Waqf Act -: The Waqf Act is a law in India that governs the management and administration of waqf properties, which are assets donated for religious or charitable purposes in Islam. The act ensures these properties are used properly and fairly.
