YEARS
In its first meeting, the panel will be briefed on the proposed amendments to the Wakf Act by officials of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Representatives from the Legislative Department and the Department of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Law and Justice will also be present at the meeting.
The joint committee of Parliament examining the Wakf (Amendment) Bill 2024 will hold its first meeting on August 22, during which the Ministry of Minority Affairs will brief the 31-member panel about the proposed law. The joint committee was formed during the recently concluded Parliament session after the controversial bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha amid protests from the Opposition. Senior BJP MP Jagdambika Pal has been made the chairman of the multi-party panel.
In its first meeting, the panel will be briefed about the proposed amendments to the Wakf Act by officials of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Representatives of the Legislative Department and the Department of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Law and Justice will also be present at the meeting. Earlier, the Muslim League had protested the non-inclusion of any of its five MPs in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha in the panel, while claiming that parties with one member in the committee have also found a place. Sources said the committee members may also discuss how to take the discussion forward. The panel is likely to invite stakeholders for detailed discussions besides seeking written suggestions from the public. Several Muslim organisations have expressed their opposition to the proposed amendments.
Earlier, the Parliament on Friday approved the proposal to recommend the nomination of 21 members of Lok Sabha and 10 members of Rajya Sabha for the formation of a joint committee of both the houses to consider the Wakf Amendment Bill. The 21 members included in this joint committee from Lok Sabha include eight MPs from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and three from Congress. Out of the members included in the committee from Rajya Sabha, four are from BJP and one each from Congress, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), YSR Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). One nominated member has also been made a member of the committee. Thus, the total number of members of this committee has become 31.
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