The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, has decided to postpone its planned study tour across key cities in India, including Guwahati, Patna, and Lucknow, due to ongoing elections.
This decision comes as several members of the committee are actively engaged in the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, as well as by-elections in other states.
The tour, which was originally scheduled to take place from November 9 to November 14, aimed to help the committee members better understand the proposed changes in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
The members of the JPC had previously requested the committee's Chairman, Jagdambika Pal, to delay the study visit so that they could focus on their election duties.
This move reflects the ongoing political engagement of key figures involved in the committee, who are committed to their respective political responsibilities ahead of the elections.
Earlier, on October 31, the Lok Sabha Secretariat had announced that the JPC would conduct a study tour to five cities—Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Patna, and Lucknow—as part of its efforts to review the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
This bill, introduced in 2024, proposes significant changes to the management and regulation of Waqf properties across India, which are lands and assets considered sacred by Muslims and held in trust for religious or charitable purposes.
According to an official notice from Joint Secretary JM Baisakh, the tour was designed to assist committee members in gathering insights on the proposed amendments.
It was expected that these city visits would offer firsthand knowledge of how Waqf properties are currently managed in different states, helping the committee assess the impact of the amendments. The visit was to include direct interactions with local Waqf boards, state authorities, and relevant stakeholders.
However, due to the election commitments of its members, the study tour has now been rescheduled. Despite this setback, the JPC is expected to continue its examination of the Waqf Bill, with plans to present its report to the Parliament during the Winter Session, which begins on November 25. The session will run through December 20, and the JPC aims to submit its findings and recommendations by the end of the first week of this session.
The delay in the study tour highlights the significant political dynamics at play, as the elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and several by-elections take centre stage.
For the JPC, however, the work on the Waqf Bill remains a priority, as it is part of a broader effort to reform the Waqf Act to ensure that Waqf properties are better managed for the benefit of the community.
Since its formation in August 2024, the Joint Parliamentary Committee has held 25 meetings, thoroughly reviewing the details of the proposed amendments. The committee has examined the work of six ministries, gathered inputs from 123 stakeholders, and engaged with representatives from various Waqf boards and minority commissions.
These efforts are central to ensuring that the Waqf Act, which governs the management of Waqf properties, is updated to meet the evolving needs of the community and to prevent misuse of the assets held in trust.
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