Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Discusses Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 in Parliament
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], September 23: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who presented the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 in Parliament, addressed concerns about government actions on Muslim lands. He emphasized that many Muslim organizations support the bill.
Rijiju stated, “The Parliamentary Committee has received a record number of recommendations for the Waqf Amendment Bill. The Waqf Amendment Bill has been referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for scrutiny. Some people are running propaganda that the lands of Muslims are being snatched by the government. This propaganda should be stopped. Many Muslim organizations have supported the bill.”
The ongoing efforts by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) are part of a broader national initiative to reform the Waqf Act and ensure that waqf properties are used for the greater good of the community. The JPC is discussing key aspects of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, including digitization of records, stricter audits, better legal recourse for encroachments, and the decentralization of waqf management.
The Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 will conduct informal discussions in five states with various stakeholders from September 26 to October 1. These consultations aim to refine the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, which governs the management of over 600,000 registered waqf properties across the country.
Notably, the Waqf Act, 1995, was created to regulate waqf properties, but it has long faced allegations of mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitization, stricter audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. These consultations will play a vital role in ensuring that the amendments to the Waqf Act are practical, effective, and aligned with the needs of the community.
The committee has to submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the last day of the first week of the next parliament session.
Doubts Revealed
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a member of the government who is in charge of a specific department or ministry. They help make important decisions for the country.
Kiren Rijiju -: Kiren Rijiju is a politician in India who works for the government. He is responsible for certain tasks and helps make laws.
Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 -: A bill is a proposal for a new law. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 is about making changes to the rules that manage Muslim religious properties called waqf.
Parliament -: Parliament is where important people in the government meet to discuss and make laws for the country.
Muslim lands -: Muslim lands refer to properties that are owned and used by the Muslim community for religious or charitable purposes.
Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) -: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is a group of members from both houses of Parliament who come together to study and review important issues or bills.
digitization -: Digitization means converting information into a digital format, like using computers to keep records instead of paper.
stricter audits -: Stricter audits mean more careful checks to make sure everything is being done correctly and honestly, especially with money and properties.
legal recourse -: Legal recourse means having the ability to use the law to solve problems or disputes.
waqf properties -: Waqf properties are lands or buildings given by Muslims for religious or charitable purposes, like mosques or schools.