Fri Sep 06 19:38:49 UTC 2024: ## Waqf Board Amendment Bill Sparks Debate in Parliament: ASI Highlights Concerns Over Monument Ownership
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 witnessed heated debate during its fourth meeting on Friday, with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) raising concerns about the Waqf Board’s ownership claims over protected monuments.
The ASI presented evidence that the Waqf Board has declared several historically protected monuments as Waqf property without sufficient proof, leading to conflicts with the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958. The ASI claims that this has hindered their ability to perform necessary conservation and maintenance work, with Waqf authorities sometimes restricting access to specific areas and making changes to the original structures.
The JPC meeting also heard from other stakeholders, including the Zakat Foundation of India and the Telangana Waqf Board. While the Waqf Board argued against amending the existing Act, Shiv Sena leader Naresh Mhaske, a member of the JPC, expressed the need for the amendment to ensure that Waqf Board properties are used for the welfare of the poor.
Opposition parties, however, voiced strong opposition to the amendment bill, accusing the ruling party of using the bill to seize control of Waqf properties.
The JPC is expected to continue its deliberations on the Waqf Amendment Bill, which could have significant implications for the management of historical monuments and the administration of Waqf properties across India.
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