Big Waqf reset begins: Parliament panel hits start button, sends feelers to experts, stakeholders for inputs
The bill in question, which aims to reform the registration process of Waqf properties through a centralised portal, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8.
The committee, led by BJP's Jagdambika Pal, is seeking «views/suggestions from the public in general and NGOs, experts, stakeholders and institutions in particular» due to the «wider implications» of the bill, as stated by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. People are requested to provide their suggestions in writing within the next 15 days.
Suggestions and memoranda submitted to the committee will be considered part of the committee's records and will be treated as «confidential,» according to the statement. Additionally, those interested in appearing before the committee, besides submitting their views in writing, are asked to indicate this specifically in their correspondence.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill represents the first significant move by the BJP-led NDA government aimed at reforming the Waqf property registration process through a centralised portal. The bill proposes several reforms, including the establishment of a Central Waqf Council alongside state Waqf Boards, with representation for Muslim women and non-Muslim representatives.
A contentious aspect of the bill is the proposal to designate the district collector as the primary authority in determining whether a property is classified as Waqf or government land.
Following a heated debate in the Lok Sabha, the bill was referred to a joint committee of Parliament. The government has asserted that
