Waqf Amendment Bill Approved: Check Key Amendments and Other Details

A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) recently approved the WAQF Amendment Bill, which incorporates 14 amendments to the original draft tabled in August 2023. The decision, taken on January 27, 2025, sparked significant controversy and opposition across the political spectrum.

Bill overview

The WAQF Amendment Bill seeks to reform the governance of the WAQF Board, which manages donations for religious and charitable purposes in the Muslim community. The JPC, led by Jagadambika Pal of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was tasked with reviewing the bill and initially received 44 proposed amendments from opposition members. However, all these proposals were ultimately rejected.

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critical corrections

The following table summarizes the key amendments contained in the WAQF Amendment Bill:

amendment	describe
Nominate non-Muslim members	See more : Observation Skill Test: If you have Eagle Eyes Find the number 85 among 83 in 15 Seconds? Nomination of non-Muslim members to the WAQF Board of Directors is allowed.
including women	There are at least two female representatives on the WAQF Board of Directors.
Central WAQF Council composition	The central WAQF committee was asked to include union ministers, three MPs, two former judges and four people of “national reputation”.
Loss of land claim rights	Eliminates WAQF Council’s ability to claim land.
See more : Observation Skill Test: If you have Eagle Eyes Find the number 353 among 358 in 10 Seconds? Donation limits	Donations to Muslims who have been practicing their faith for less than five years are prohibited.

political tensions and opposition

The bill is not without hurdles as it awaits approval. The JPC was supposed to submit its report by November 29, 2023, but the deadline has been extended to coincide with the budget session of Parliament, which ends on February 13, 2025. The process undermines opposition MPs by biasing them against the chairman. Tensions are growing after ten opposition MPs were suspended for protesting what they saw as unfair proceedings.

heat exchange

The committee meeting was marked by heated exchanges and there was a dramatic moment when Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee allegedly smashed a glass bottle in response to a provocation from a BJP member. Such incidents only show rising tensions over the bill.

religious freedom concerns

Opposition leaders have serious objections to the hasty manner in which the WAQF Amendment Bill was passed, especially since the Delhi general election is scheduled to be held on February 5. They say the ruling party is trying to knock them down without discussion and giving them a chance to dissent.

constitutional issues

Those who raised objections, such as Asaduddin Owaisi and Kanimozhi, said the changes were made against the constitution. In particular they mentioned:

• Article 15: Ensure religious rights.
• Article 30: Right of ethnic minority communities to manage their own educational institutions
• They view the bill as a frontal lobe attack on religious rights and an unhelpful attempt at the autonomy of the Muslim community

The JPC saw the WAQF Amendment Bill pass stages amid political infighting in the country. The message is indeed very controversial as it outlines things regarding religious rights and governance in India. Debates will continue to arise, with even the impact on the Muslim community dominating discussions in Parliament as the budget session draws ever closer to its end. The bill’s future is also being widely watched as it could set important priorities in terms of minority rights and religious governance in India.

Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
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