JPC Meeting on Waqf Act in Lucknow, Government Presents Shocking Report

A crucial meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Act took place in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by Jagdambika Pal, a Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the head of the JPC.
Along with various political party MPs, several ministers from the Uttar Pradesh government also attended the meeting. A total of 11 members, including Asaduddin Owaisi, participated in the meeting, along with leaders from both Shia and Sunni Waqf boards and other prominent religious organizations.
Outcome of the Meeting
After the meeting, Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Ansari stated that the meeting had been very positive and that the state government supports the Waqf Amendment Bill. He emphasized that the collective sentiment is to ensure the welfare of poor Muslims, the proper regulation of Waqf land, and its proper utilization.
Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli also expressed hope that the issues raised during the JPC meeting would be resolved. Uttar Pradesh Minister for Minority Welfare Om Prakash Rajbhar mentioned that the objections raised by stakeholders in the meeting would be addressed.
Government's Position
During the meeting, Monika Garg, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Minority Welfare Department and the Agriculture Production Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh, represented the state government. She presented the government’s stance and informed that Uttar Pradesh has a total of 14,000 hectares of Waqf land, of which about 11,700 hectares (approximately 78%) is government land.
Garg also stated that famous landmarks like the Bara Imambara and Chhota Imambara in Lucknow and the Bahu-Begum Tomb in Ayodhya are government properties. However, the Shia Waqf Board strongly opposed this claim, and several members disagreed with it. The report presented at the meeting indicated ongoing disputes over Waqf properties in Uttar Pradesh.
The state government argued that many significant buildings, such as the Bara and Chhota Imambara, are government-owned, while the Waqf board claims ownership of these properties. Additionally, the Sachar Committee's report had also previously labeled 60 Waqf properties as government properties.
Next Steps for JPC
Jagdambika Pal, the Chairman of the JPC, spoke with the media after the meeting and mentioned that the committee had also consulted Islamic scholars and other prominent figures, in addition to government officials. He confirmed that this would be the final meeting of the JPC, and the committee would present its report in the upcoming session starting January 31.
This report is expected to pave the way for a stronger and more effective law. After the meeting, Shia Waqf Board Chairman Ali Zaidi stated that the JPC had raised several questions with the department officials, particularly concerning the data that was presented. He also refuted the government's claim that the Imambaras in Lucknow do not belong to the Waqf Board.
Structure of the Meeting
The meeting took place in two phases. In the first phase, JPC members, along with Uttar Pradesh’s Minority Welfare Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, Minister of State Danish Ansari, and other key officials, participated. In the second phase, members of the Shia-Sunni Waqf Boards, along with intellectuals, presented their views.