New Delhi: Opposition parties on Wednesday urged that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill be referred to a parliamentary standing committee for scrutiny after its introduction. The government, during a Business Advisory Committee meeting, said that it would consider this request after gauging the sentiment in the Lok Sabha.
The government said the committee that it would not push for an immediate discussion or passage of the Bill following its introduction on Thursday. Sources said that the government might be open to sending the Bill, which has faced opposition from some Muslim organisations, to a parliamentary panel. It should be noted that certain parties typically supportive of the government’s agenda have also expressed concerns about the proposed legislation.
At the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the government would decide on Thursday whether to refer the Bill for parliamentary scrutiny. The committee, which includes representatives from major parties, discusses the government’s proposed legislative agenda.
Opposition calls for scrutiny
Congress MP Gourav Gogoi and Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay were among the opposition members who called for the Bill to be sent to the standing committee for detailed examination after its introduction. It is important to highlight that the department-related standing committees of the Lok Sabha have not yet been constituted. In the absence of these committees, the House may consider forming a separate panel to review the Bill if the government chooses to take that route.
Waqf (Amendment) Bill proposes inclusive changes
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which aims to amend the existing law governing waqf boards, proposes significant changes, including the inclusion of Muslim women and non-Muslims in these bodies. Apart from that, the Bill seeks to rename the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
The Bill was circulated among Lok Sabha members on Tuesday night, ahead of its scheduled introduction. According to its objectives, the Bill aims to remove Section 40 of the current law, which grants the Board authority to determine if a property is waqf property. It also proposes the creation of a separate board of Auqaf for the Bohras and Aghakhanis, which ensures representation for various Muslim communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Bohras and Agakhanis.