Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf Bill likely to visit J-K

NEW DELHI, Dec 26: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir following calls from several members to assess the Union Territory's perspective.

With Jammu and Kashmir housing the largest Muslim population among Union Territories, panel members argued that the report on the Bill would be incomplete without a visit. The Muttaheda Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), a coalition of 46 religious bodies led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, also sought an opportunity to present their views, expressing concerns over the amendments' potential impact on religious, social, and charitable institutions.

“These amendments could significantly undermine the autonomy and welfare of Waqf properties, creating anxiety within the community,” the MMU stated in a release dated November 28.

Pal highlighted that the committee has conducted 18–20 tours, including visits to Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. "Our members want to visit Jammu and Kashmir, and we will seek the Speaker’s permission," he said, as per a report in The Hindu.

The JPC, which has held 27 meetings in Delhi so far, will continue deliberations with representatives from Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Delhi on Friday. The Lok Sabha recently extended the panel’s tenure, mandating the report’s submission by the end of the 2025 Budget Session.