Recently, the JPC has approved 14 amendments (Waqf Bill changes) in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. After this approval, Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Chairman Jagdambika Pal will present the JPC report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Lok Sabha. In this report, views and evidence have been presented on various aspects of the bill. According to the information, some important reforms have been proposed in this bill for the management, operation and monitoring of Waqf properties. The purpose of this bill is only to improve the use of Waqf properties. The JPC discussed the bill in detail and obtained evidence from various parties on it. This report will be presented in both Hindi and English languages. The report will also include a record of all the evidence that was presented before the Joint Committee. These evidences are important for deliberations about the provisions of the bill and are aimed at ensuring effective and equitable implementation of the bill. Importantly, the sole objective of the bill introduced by the government is to amend the Waqf Act, 1995 to address the issues and challenges related to regulating and managing Waqf properties. Let us tell you that many important changes have been proposed in the Waqf Act, 1995 in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Let us take a look at what are those changes?
JPC has approved these 14 amendments (Waqf Bill changes)
- Illegal occupation will be tightened: The legal system will be improved to take back illegally occupied Waqf properties.
- Strict action will be taken on unauthorized transfer of Waqf properties: Provisions of strict punishment will be made for unauthorized transfer of Waqf properties.
- Participation of magistrates will be increased: To improve administrative monitoring, the participation of district magistrates will be increased to oversee Waqf properties.
- Digitization of Waqf properties: The process of digitization of Waqf properties will be promoted for better management.
- Computerization of Waqf properties: Records of Waqf properties will be computerized to improve data management.
- Audit system will be improved: The audit system of Waqf properties will be improved to ensure financial transparency.
- Appointment of Chief Executive Officer: To improve administrative work, a senior level officer will be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer for the Waqf Board.
- Improvement in verification processes: To increase transparency and crack down on illegal occupation, mandatory verification processes will be implemented for claims of Waqf properties.
- Women representation: To ensure gender diversity, Sections 9 and 14 of the Waqf Act, 1995 will be amended to include women representatives in the structure of the Waqf Board. Appointment of Waqf Board members: To improve the appointment process, the state government will be allowed to nominate all the members of the Waqf Board.
- Non-Muslim members will also get a place: It will now be mandatory to include two non-Muslim members in the State Waqf Board and Central Waqf Council.
- Reduction in the powers of the Waqf Board: Some provisions will be removed to limit the uncontrolled powers of the Waqf Board, so that they cannot declare any property as Waqf without necessary investigation.
- Increase in the powers of the Waqf Tribunal: The powers of the Waqf Tribunal will be increased to resolve disputes related to Waqf quickly.
- Change in the structure of the Waqf Board: The structure of the Waqf Board will be changed to ensure representation of different communities, so that it will be made more effective.
Read Also:- Maulanas of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, opposing the amendment in Waqf Act, openly threatened, said this
Opposition MPs called this report (Waqf Bill changes) unconstitutional
According to reports, JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal submitted the committee’s report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday. The 655-page report included suggestions given by the ruling party MPs. The opposition MPs had termed the report unconstitutional and claimed that this move would ruin the Waqf Board, while according to the ruling party MPs, it would help in bringing not only modernity and transparency but also accountability in the management of Waqf properties. Let us tell you that the report of the committee headed by Jagdambika Pal was approved by 15 votes against 11. It is worth noting that in the year 2024, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill (Waqf Bill changes) in the Lok Sabha. Thereafter, the bill was sent to the JPC on 8 August.
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