NEW DELHI, Jan 14: Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced on Tuesday that progress on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, currently under review by a joint parliamentary committee (JPC), is moving forward efficiently, and “positive results” are anticipated soon. Speaking at an event hosted by “Panchjanya,” a publication linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Meghwal chose not to comment on the “sub-judice” status of the Places of Worship Act, stating that if the Supreme Court requests an affidavit from the Centre, it will be provided in the “national interest.”
In response to inquiries regarding the Waqf Bill, he highlighted that the Narendra Modi administration made a “significant decision” in introducing the legislation, which has already been approved by the Union Cabinet. “When the Bill was proposed, there were calls for it to be reviewed by a committee, which led to the formation of the JPC. Meetings are ongoing and field visits have taken place; the work is progressing well, and it cannot be regarded as slow,” he remarked.
Meghwal mentioned that Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had previously expressed the government’s perspective on the Bill at the time of its introduction. “There is no reason for doubt. You will soon witness positive outcomes in Parliament,” he assured.
When asked about potential changes to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, Meghwal reiterated, “As the law minister, I cannot comment on this matter as it is currently before the Supreme Court.” He added, “Any decision made will be aligned with national interest, especially if the government is requested to submit an affidavit or other documentation.”
The Places of Worship Act, established in 1991, aims to maintain the religious character of all places of worship as they existed on August 15, 1947, with the notable exception of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya. A special bench of the Supreme Court is reviewing six petitions, including the primary one filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, which challenges various provisions of the Act.
Meghwal also criticized opposition parties for disseminating “fake narratives” during the last Lok Sabha elections, claiming that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intended to modify the Constitution if re-elected. “In 2024, a false narrative circulated that the BJP aimed for a third consecutive term to alter the Constitution. This was unfounded,” he stated.
Addressing judicial reforms, he noted that the introduction of new criminal laws will aid in addressing case backlog.
