Opposition MPs seek Om Birla’s intervention on Waqf panel chief’s ‘behaviour’

Opposition MPs in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Bill have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging that the panel’s head, Jagdambika Pal, has taken unilateral decisions on key issues, including scheduling of sessions and selection of witnesses.

The MPs claim that Pal, a BJP lawmaker, has set three-day back-to-back sessions without consulting other committee members, which they say does not allow enough time for preparation. The issue, they say, highlights a lack of transparency in proceedings and undermines the high-powered group’s collaborative purpose.

The allegations come ahead of a series of JPC meetings on November 4 and 5, where contributions will be collected from a wide range of stakeholders on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Last week’s sessions were dramatic as MPs engaged in heated verbal battles, culminating in an incident where Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee broke a glass bottle out of sheer frustration.

In the letter, opposition MPs argued that the JPC, intended as a “mini Parliament”, should not be reduced to a mere “ventilation chamber” to push the government’s agenda. They accused the committee leadership of using its majority to nullify due process and prevent a thorough debate on the bill’s provisions.

Opposition MPs have warned that unless changes are made to ensure formal consultations within the committee, they will consider dissociating from the CPC entirely. They asked Chairman Birla to intervene and instruct Pal to involve the committee members in future decisions.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which aims to reform the Waqf Act 1995seeks to address the long-standing issues of alleged mismanagement, corruption and violations of Waqf properties.

The proposed changes include digitization of records, stricter audits, increased transparency and new legal mechanisms to reclaim affected properties. The JPC invited government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members and community representatives from across the country to consider the bill.