Parliament Committee Discusses Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024
The Joint Committee of Parliament is set to meet on Monday at the Parliament Annexe to discuss the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The committee will hear from Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Delhi, and experts like Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, Adv. Ashwini Upadhyay, and Adv. Virendra Ichalkaranjikar.
On Tuesday, the committee will gather oral evidence from the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Previously, on September 28, the committee held a meeting in Hyderabad with stakeholders, including Waqf Board chairmen and representatives from 42 organizations. The meeting was attended by JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, and Congress MP Imran Masood.
Jagdambika Pal stated that discussions have been held in various cities, including Ahmedabad and Mumbai, with plans to visit Chennai, Bangalore, and Delhi. The aim is to gather comprehensive input to shape the bill before presenting it in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, introduced on August 8, seeks to reform the management of over 600,000 waqf properties, addressing issues like mismanagement and corruption. The bill proposes digitization, stricter audits, and legal measures to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The committee’s report is due by the end of the first week of the next parliament session.
Doubts Revealed
Parliament Committee -: A Parliament Committee is a group of members from the Indian Parliament who come together to discuss and review specific issues or bills. They help in making decisions and recommendations about laws.
Waqf -: Waqf is a religious endowment in Islam, where a person donates property or money for religious or charitable purposes. The property is used to benefit the community, like building schools or mosques.
Amendment Bill -: An Amendment Bill is a proposal to change or add to an existing law. In this case, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to improve the rules about managing waqf properties.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind -: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind is an organization of Muslim scholars in India. They provide guidance on religious and social issues and are involved in discussions about laws affecting the Muslim community.
Ministry of Minority Affairs -: The Ministry of Minority Affairs is a part of the Indian government that focuses on the welfare and development of minority communities in India, like Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and others.
Stakeholders -: Stakeholders are people or groups who have an interest in a particular issue or project. In this context, they are organizations and individuals who are affected by or involved in the management of waqf properties.