Last Updated:
The Islamic seminary objected to certain amendments to the clauses of the existing bill that the Centre wishes to push through
Members of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill pose for a photograph. (File image: PTI)
In the 31st meeting of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) for the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 held on Wednesday, representatives of the renowned Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband, including its principal Maulana Arshad Madani, appeared before it. The seminary strongly opposed the bill as being proposed by the Centre, saying it was against one community. Deposing before the panel, it objected to certain amendments to the clauses of the existing bill that the Centre wishes to push through.
Among these is the entry of non-Muslims into the board. However, the seminary team said they have no objections to the administration and governance of Waqf properties being on par with other religions, sources said.
related stories
The JPC recently received an extension of its term until the last day of the next budget session of Parliament, after members from both the opposition and ruling sides agreed that greater consultation on this bill was needed.
After Wednesday’s meeting, committee chairman and BJP lawmaker Jagdambika Pal said that he welcomed the seminary’s appearance, noting that it had a long history and contribution to the spread of Islam, not just in India but across the globe. “Their history has been for more than 150 years, and they have been important in creating scholars and vice chancellors. They have made various suggestions, and I’ve also given their suggestions in writing, which the JPC will take into regard,” Pal said.
The bill was referred to the committee by the Lok Sabha in the last monsoon session of Parliament, on August 9, 2024.
As per the data available, the committee has examined 13 Waqf Boards so far, and seven state representatives have come before the panel in Parliament.
So far, 42 organisations/stakeholders have appeared before the committee.
The panel has undertaken two study tours. During the first study tour across states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, the panel met 123 stakeholders. The second trip had to be cut short because of the opposition boycott and could only visit Guwahati and Bhubaneswar. The panel examined 16 stakeholders.
The committee, which had asked the public to give their opinion about the bill, both online and through physical representation, so far has received 92.28 lakh emails and 4.99 lakh physical representations.