Waqf Amendment Bill: Union Cabinet Approves Key Changes Recommended By Parliamentary Panel, Says Report

The Union Cabinet has given its approval to changes in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, NDTV reported citing sources.

In a meeting last week, the Cabinet reportedly accepted 14 out of the 23 amendments suggested by a joint parliamentary committee, which had been reviewing the bill since August last year.

The amended bill is expected to be table in Parliament when the House reconvenes on 10 March.

On 13 February, the JPC submitted its report, but controversy erupted as opposition MPs alleged that portions of their dissent notes were missing from the final document.

The Central government refuted the allegations, stating that JPC Chairman Jagadambika Pal of the BJP had the discretion to exclude parts that were deemed to cast ‘aspersions’ on the committee.

After discussions involving Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, and protesting opposition MPs, it was agreed that the dissent notes would be be included in their original (and entire) form.

The JPC had 16 MPs from the BJP and allied parties, and only 10 from the opposition.

There were 44 changes in the draft Waqf Amendment bill; these were to rules governing central and state Waqf boards, which decide how Muslim charitable properties are managed in this country.

These proposals - which include nominating non-Muslim and (at least two) women members to every Waqf Board, as well as a Union Minister, three MPs, and four people of 'national repute' to the central Waqf Council - had triggered furious protests from the opposition.

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