Opposition MPs seek Om Birla's intervention over Waqf panel chief's 'behaviour'

In the letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, opposition MPs argued that the joint parliamentary committee should not be reduced to a mere "ventilating chamber" to push the government's agenda.

In Short

• Opposition MPs allege JPC chief making unilateral decisions
• MPs claim lack of transparency in Waqf Bill session proceedings
• Opposition MPs threaten to quit JPC if no changes are made

Opposition MPs on the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Bill have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging that panel chief Jagdambika Pal has been making unilateral decisions on key matters, including scheduling sessions and choosing witnesses.

The lawmakers claim Pal, a BJP MP, has been setting consecutive three-day sessions without consulting other committee members, which they argue does not allow enough preparation time. The issue, they say, highlights a lack of transparency in the proceedings and undermines the collaborative purpose of the high-powered panel.

The allegations come ahead of a series of JPC meetings on November 4 and 5, where input will be gathered from a wide range of stakeholders on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Last week’s sessions saw high drama as lawmakers engaged in heated verbal battles, culminating in an incident where Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee smashed a glass bottle out of sheer frustration.

In the letter, opposition MPs argued that the JPC, intended as a “mini Parliament,” should not be reduced to a mere “ventilating chamber” to push the government’s agenda. They accused the committee leadership of using its majority to override due process and prevent thorough debate on the bill’s provisions.

The opposition MPs warned that if no changes are made to ensure formal consultations within the committee, they would consider disassociating from the JPC entirely. They requested Speaker Birla to intervene and instruct Pal to involve committee members in decisions moving forward.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which aims to reform the 1995 Waqf Act, seeks to address longstanding issues of alleged mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments on Waqf properties.

Proposed amendments include digitisation of records, stricter audits, enhanced transparency, and new legal mechanisms to reclaim encroached properties. The JPC has invited government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members, and community representatives from across the country to weigh in on the bill.