Sun Dec 01 10:37:36 UTC 2024: ## Parliamentary Panel Delays Waqf Amendment Bill Amidst Property Disputes
**New Delhi, December 1, 2024** – The parliamentary Joint Committee (JPC) reviewing the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill has requested further information from multiple state governments regarding Waqf property ownership. The extension, granted until the end of the next Budget Session, follows concerns raised by opposition parties and Muslim groups about the bill’s potential interference in religious affairs.
The JPC, chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, is seeking verification of data from the Sachar Committee’s 2006 report, which detailed alleged unauthorized occupation of Waqf properties by state governments. The committee specifically requested updates from six states – Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha – regarding the properties identified in the report. The committee also wants details on ongoing legal disputes between state agencies and Waqf boards over property ownership.
The bill’s Section 40, which grants Waqf boards the power to determine property ownership, is a key point of contention. The proposed amendment seeks to curtail this power, a move opposed by some. While the JPC chairman claims to have incorporated opposition viewpoints, the panel’s meetings have been marked by intense debate, leading to the request for an extension. The Lok Sabha approved the tenure extension on November 28th. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has indicated it will explore legal options to challenge the bill.
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