MRM delegation meets JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal, proposes reforms for transparent Waqf Management

New Delhi [India], October 6 (ANI): A four-member delegation from the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) met Jagdambika Pal, the Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), tasked with reviewing the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.

According to an official release, the delegation was led by National Convener Shahid Akhtar, along with National Convener and Media In-charge Shahid Sayeed, Madrasa, Student, and Youth Cell Coordinator Imran Chaudhary, and Muslim scholar Tahir Mustafa.

During the meeting, the delegation addressed various concerns and was engaged in in-depth discussions on several critical issues regarding Waqf management. They presented detailed suggestions and proposed reforms, highlighting the need for more transparent and effective management of Waqf assets, the release mentioned.

The release said that the aim of the meeting was to ensure that Waqf properties could be better utilised for the benefit of the Muslim community, particularly in areas like education, healthcare, and socio-economic development.

The delegation also submitted extensive dossiers to Jagdambika Pal, outlining these issues and recommendations in a structured manner. These included suggestions on more effective monitoring and auditing of Waqf properties, the protection of community interests, and ways to ensure equitable distribution of resources, it further said.

Jagdambika Pal expressed his appreciation for the MRM’s efforts and acknowledged the importance of their suggestions. He commended the MRM’s work towards creating positive change within the community and reassured the delegation that their proposals would be considered seriously during the legislative review process.

The meeting concluded with a note of mutual respect and a shared commitment to improving the Waqf system for the benefit of the entire Muslim community, the release mentioned.

As per the release, a two-day-long meeting of the Joint Committee of Parliament will be held from October 14 on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The committee has to submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the last day of the first week of the next parliament session.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Aug 8 and was then referred to a JPC after a heated debate. The bill addresses reforms and regulations concerning Waqf properties, which play a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the Muslim community.

The Waqf Act, 1995, was created to regulate waqf properties, but it has long faced allegations of mismanagement, corruption and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.