New Delhi, August 13, 2024 — Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP Jagdambika Pal has been appointed as the chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tasked with examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The committee, consisting of 31 members, will scrutinize the bill and submit its report by the end of the first week of the next Parliament session, as reported by PTI on Tuesday.
Overview of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8, has been a topic of considerable debate. The bill was referred to the JPC following concerns raised by opposition members about its potential impact on India’s federal structure and its implications for religious autonomy. The bill proposes 40 significant amendments to the current Waqf Act, including provisions aimed at ensuring better representation for Muslim women and non-Muslims in Waqf Boards.
Composition of the Joint Parliamentary Committee
The JPC includes 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. Of these, 12 members are from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including eight from the BJP, while nine members are from the opposition. In the Rajya Sabha, the JPC comprises four MPs from the BJP, four from the opposition, one from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), which has opposed the bill, and one nominated member.
The motion to form the JPC was moved by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who also handles the parliamentary affairs portfolio. The motion was adopted by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on August 9
