Opposition Urges Postponement of JPC Meetings on Waqf (Amendment) Bill

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is set to hold its final deliberations on January 24 and 25. However, DMK MP A Raja, on behalf of the Opposition parties, has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and JPC Chairman Jagadambika Pal, seeking a postponement of the scheduled sittings to January 30 and 31.

In his letter, Raja highlighted the logistical challenges faced by members in preparing amendments on such short notice. The letter, submitted after a recent meeting in Lucknow, emphasized that the hurried scheduling undermines the purpose of the JPC and raises concerns about adherence to constitutional values, particularly the secular fabric enshrined in the Constitution's preamble.

Raja noted that the JPC had only concluded its stakeholder consultations in Patna, Kolkata, and Lucknow on January 21. Following these meetings, members dispersed to their constituencies and were engaged in pre-scheduled commitments, making it impractical to reconvene immediately for clause-by-clause discussions.

“It is surprising that the next sittings of the JPC were announced without formal consultation, even while the committee was still on tour,” Raja stated. He reiterated that during the Lucknow meeting, members had unanimously requested the postponement of the January 24-25 sittings to provide adequate time for preparations.

The DMK MP also pointed out that stakeholders from Patna, Kolkata, and Lucknow had been asked to submit their written views within seven days of the consultations, which further necessitates additional time for their inputs to be reviewed and circulated among members.

Raja emphasized that the proposed postponement to January 30 and 31 would ensure adequate deliberation, especially after the Presidential Address in Parliament. “The chairman has responded positively to the request and assured us that it would be considered in consultation with the Government,” Raja noted.

The committee had earlier communicated late on January 22, requesting members to submit notices of proposed amendments ahead of the January 24-25 sittings. The Opposition remains firm in its demand for an extension, citing procedural integrity and the need for comprehensive discussion.