Waqf Amendment Bill Advances with 14 Changes Approved by JPC

Opposition amendments rejected as ruling coalition secures majority support in contentious committee proceedings.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) approved 14 amendments to the Waqf Amendment Bill, rejecting all opposition-proposed changes after a clause-by-clause review.
The ruling BJP-led NDA leveraged its majority in the JPC, with 16 members voting against opposition amendments supported by 10 members.
Key changes include the removal of the 'Waqf by user' clause for properties used for religious purposes and the inclusion of non-Muslim and female members in Waqf boards.
Opposition members criticized the process, accusing the committee chair of bias and alleging a lack of fair deliberation during the six-month review period.
Voting on the approved amendments is scheduled for January 29, with the final report expected to be submitted by January 31.