Jagdambika Pal summons Delhi Waqf Board, Ministry of Minority Affairs for JPC hearing

NEW DELHI: BJP MP and chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagdambika Pal, announced that the committee will hold a hearing with the Delhi Waqf Board and representatives of the Ministry of Minority Affairs on Tuesday to discuss the ‘Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024’ and record their oral evidence.

Pal responded to a recent letter sent by former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal regarding the bill, which had reached the public domain before he received it. “How did Delhi’s Chief Minister write to me? Although I only just received the letter, it had already entered the public domain even before reaching me”, Pal remarked, adding that he raised some objections to the letter in a recent meeting.

Pal said the JPC is working hard to consult as many Waqf Boards, minority commissions, and stakeholders as possible for comprehensive discussions. He shared that members from various backgrounds have been involved, including retired Supreme Court judges, former vice-chancellors, tenant association representatives, and non-profits with interests related to the Waqf Board.

“The JPC’s work is to talk with larger stakeholders. I feel the JPC has made a lot of effort, meeting almost all state Waqf Boards. In 11 days, we have engaged with multiple state Waqf Boards, stakeholder associations, and judges, and this process will continue”, he noted.

Pal clarified that JPC discussions are to remain confidential, as directed under Section 58 by Speaker Om Birla. “Our effort is to keep JPC discussions confidential… If someone sends us a letter and someone leaks it, it does not concern us as it is not part of our proceedings”, he said.

Regarding TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, Pal added that he expects cooperation. “As the chairman, I conduct these meetings patiently for over eight hours, ensuring every MP gets the opportunity to express their views”, he concluded.

On Monday, Opposition MPs staged a walkout from the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 meeting, chaired by Jagdambika Pal at the Parliament Annexe, alleging biased proceedings. They alleged that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner and Delhi Waqf Board CEO Ashwini Kumar completely altered the initial report of the Waqf Board and claimed the Chief Minister’s approval in the matter was not sought.

However, Opposition MPs later rejoined the JPC meeting. In the meeting, the committee had summoned representatives from the Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand Waqf Boards to record their views on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The committee also invited Call for Justice (led by Trustee Chander Wadhwa), the Waqf Tenant Welfare Association, and Harbans Dunkall, President of the Residents Welfare Association (All Blocks) in BK Dutt Colony, New Delhi, to share their views and suggestions. The committee will also convene on October 29 to record oral evidence from representatives of the Ministry of Minority Affairs on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The previous meeting on October 22 saw a heated argument between BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay and Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee. During the argument, Banerjee allegedly broke a glass bottle and reportedly threw it at committee chairman Jagdambika Pal, as reported by members present.

The JPC’s efforts are part of a broader national initiative to reform the Waqf Act and ensure that Waqf properties serve the community’s best interests. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha in August, aims to bring major reforms by introducing digitization, stricter audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.

The JPC is conducting a series of meetings to gather input from government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members, and community representatives across different states and Union Territories, aiming to create the most comprehensive reform possible. (ANI)