The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 met in New Delhi yesterday under the Chairpersonship of Lok Sabha MP Jagdambika Pal and heard the views and suggestions of All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) on the Bill. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Jagdambika Pal said that during the meeting, the members of the Board presented their views on this bill. He added that the members of the JPC have also sought response on some questions from the AISPLB regarding the proposed amendments.

The JPC comprises 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, including 13 Opposition members. It is holding a series of meetings to gather input from government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members, and community representatives from different states and Union Territories, aiming for the most comprehensive reform possible.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to bring significant reforms, including digitisation of records, stricter audits, increased transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied Waqf properties. The Bill is aimed at reforming the management and regulation of Waqf properties across the country.