Parliamentary Joint Committee on Waqf Bill Expected to Visit Jammu and Kashmir

NEW DELHI, Dec 26: The chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Bill, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, announced on Thursday that the committee is expected to visit Jammu and Kashmir following a comprehensive meeting.
Several committee members indicated that the report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 would lack completeness without a visit to the Union Territory, which has the highest Muslim population. The Muttaheda Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chairman of the Hurriyat, has also reached out to the committee to express their views on the Bill.
“These amendments have raised considerable concerns and apprehension within the community due to possible ramifications for religious, social, and charitable institutions. The significance of these amendments could jeopardize the autonomy and core purpose of Waqf assets. The organization fears that the proposed adjustments might greatly affect the welfare and self-governance of the Muslim community in the region,” the MMU, which comprises 46 religious organizations and Islamic educational institutions, stated in a release on November 28.
Pal informed reporters after the meeting that the committee has already conducted 18 to 20 tours and is also planning visits to West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. “Our members express a desire to travel to Jammu and Kashmir. We will seek permission from the Speaker for this,” he stated.
During the meeting, the committee heard from representatives of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. “We had invited the Principal Secretary of the Minority Affairs Departments of these states to provide us with information regarding registered properties and other relevant details. However, the responses we have received so far have not been satisfactory,” he remarked.
The panel will reconvene on Friday (December 27, 2024) when officials from Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Delhi are expected to participate.
Recently, the Lok Sabha passed a motion to extend the panel’s tenure and required them to present their report by the end of the Budget Session in 2025. The committee has conducted 27 meetings in Delhi to date.