Delhi, 5 April (H.S.): The Waqf Amendment Bill has been approved by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, following extensive discussions lasting 12 hours in the Lok Sabha and 14 hours in the Rajya Sabha. Presidential assent is the next step for the bill to become law.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examined the bill for over 118 hours, with its chairman, Jagdambika Pal, noting that few bills have received such thorough scrutiny in India’s democratic history.

In an interview with Hindustan Samachar, Jagdambika Pal said, We held 38 meetings of the JPC in Delhi. Additionally, we traveled to states including Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, and others, engaging in hours of discussions with stakeholders, state waqf boards, Islamic scholars, Islamic organizations, and legal experts. Their suggestions were taken into account and included in the report. Even several suggestions from opposition members were incorporated into the report. Therefore, all the allegations from the opposition are baseless.

Opposition parties such as Congress, AIMIM, and RJD have challenged the bill in the Supreme Court, to which Pal responded, asserting that they would face defeat because the bill corrects unconstitutional provisions, aligning them with the Constitution. He emphasized that while the opposition claims the bill is unconstitutional, it actually ensures that tribunal decisions can be appealed in the High Court and Supreme Court, reflecting the finality of the Supreme Court’s authority.

Pal accused the opposition of spreading confusion but noted public support for the Modi government, with many relieved that their properties are no longer threatened by the waqf board.

The JPC included 31 members, with a majority from the Lok Sabha.

—————

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar