Parliamentary Panel Gears Up for Waqf Amendment Bill Review

The Parliamentary panel on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, chaired by Jagdambika Pal, is set to hold meetings and tour five state capitals to gather input from diverse stakeholders. The panel aims to submit its report by the first week of Parliament's winter session in November 2023.

The parliamentary panel reviewing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is accelerating its efforts with an impending deadline to gather and analyze feedback. Chaired by Jagdambika Pal, the committee has outlined a schedule of meetings on November 4 and 5 to engage with varied stakeholders including Muslim women, academics, and socio-religious organizations.

Beginning November 9, the panel will embark on a five-state tour starting in Guwahati, Assam. Here, informal discussions will take place involving the departments of minority affairs, law and justice, the state minority commission, and Waqf boards from Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Tripura.

The committee will continue its tour with talks in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on November 11, followed by sessions in West Bengal, Bihar, and finally in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh by November 14. Despite past extensions for similar committees, Chairman Pal is determined to deliver the report within the designated timeframe.

(With inputs from agencies.)