After Controversy, Cabinet Clears Waqf (Amendment) Bill
The Union Cabinet has given its nod to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill based on the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report. The report was laid for the first time in Parliament on February 13. Sources say the Cabinet discussed and “cleared” the Bill in a meeting held on February 19.
The report had been laid in both Houses during the first half of the 2025 Budget Session, but the Opposition’s heated arguments and protests caused frequent disruptions.
Opposition’s Allegations & Government Denial
The MP of the Opposition alleged that their dissenting remarks were deleted from the JPC report, which the government denied. The Cabinet’s approval has paved the way to get the bill introduced in the second half of the Budget Session starting from March 10.
What is the Waqf (Amendment) Bill?
This bill aims to improve the management of Waqf properties: lands and assets donated by the Muslim community for religious and charitable purposes. The proposed changes include:
Adding not less than two non-Muslim members to state Waqf boards.
A government official decides whether a property is a Waqf property.
How Was the Bill Reviewed?
The bill was reviewed by the JPC, chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, which suggested several amendments. Opposition members had raised serious objections to these amendments.
The committee in January went through the amendments one by one. Of 44 proposed amendments, the committee adopted 14 clauses proposed by the ruling BJP-led NDA and rejected all proposed amendments from the Opposition.
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