JPC on Waqf (Amemdment) and reform bill meets

NEW DELHI: The joint committee of Parliament met here for the second time on Friday to hear the views of Muslim bodies on the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to reform the registration process for Waqf properties through a centralised portal.

During the day-long meeting, the panel headed by BJP’s Jagdambika Pal will hear the views of stakeholders, including the All India Sunni Jamiyatul Ulama, Mumbai, and Delhi-based Indian Muslims for Civil Rights (IMCR).

The Bill is the first major initiative of the BJP-led NDA government aimed at reforming the registration process for Waqf properties.

Besides this, establishing a Central Waqf Council alongside state Waqf Boards with representation to Muslim women and non-Muslim representatives are also among the proposed reforms.

A contentious provision of the Bill is the proposal to designate the district collector as the primary authority in determining whether a property is classified as Waqf or government land.