Tenure of Joint Committee on Waqf Bill extended till end of Budget Session

The Centre had referred the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, tabled on August 8, to the Committee to scrutinise the Bill following the Opposition’s objections. The panel’s tenure was set to conclude on November 29.

Going by tradition, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is expected to be taken up for consideration and passage only in the second half of the Budget session. The first week of the Budget session focuses on the economic survey report and the Union budget and further discussion on that.

Pal had announced seeking an extension for the tenure of the panel after its Opposition members had staged a walkout from the meeting of the Committee on Wednesday.

Opposition members had stormed out of the meeting alleging that procedures and rules were not being followed and the panel chairman was willing to submit a report on November 29 despite their request to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to extend the tenure of the Committee.

Gaurav Gogoi of the Congress, A Raja of the DMK, Sanjay Singh of the AAP, and Kalyan Banerjee of the TMC had alleged that Pal was keen to wrap up proceedings by the November 29 deadline without completing due process.

Opposition members of the panel met Speaker Om Birla on Monday and requested a reasonable extension. In a letter given to the Speaker, the Opposition members wrote that the Committee had its first meeting on August 22 and had held only 25 sittings, including those where presentations were made by “various irrelevant” organisations and individuals.

The Joint Committee comprises 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. It includes 13 Opposition members – nine from the Lower House and four from the Upper House.