Waqf Amendment Bill Referred To Joint Parliamentary Committee After Opposition Leaders Call It 'Anti-Muslim, Anti-Constitution'

After a debate over the introduction of Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 in Lok Sabha on Thursday (8 August), Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju proposed sending it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

The constituents of this JPC are yet not decided. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has assured forming a JPC to review the Bill as the Opposition criticised it by calling it anti-Muslim and anti-Constitution.

Rijiju defended the Bill by explaining that the provisions will make the Waqf Board more efficient, transparent, accountable and inclusive and will benefit Muslim women, children and backwards classes among the community.

However, keeping in mind the demand of several Opposition leaders to send the Bill to some committee, the decision to refer the Bill for further consideration was taken.

The most criticised provision of the Bill was it allowing non-Muslims to be a part of the central Waqf council, giving powers to district collectors and allowing appeal against the order of Waqf Tribunal.