'Will resign if report is unconstitutional,' says BJP's Jagdambika Pal as SC hears challenges to Waqf Amendments

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Bill, Jagdambika Pal, declared on Friday in New Delhi that he would resign from his position if the committee's report is found to be unconstitutional, while defending the law against opposition claims of religious discrimination and addressing concerns about Waqf properties and board membership.
"I have said before too that if the report made by us is unconstitutional or interferes with religious freedom then I will resign," Pal stated in Delhi.

The BJP MP criticized opposition parties, particularly Congress, for allegedly misleading people about the amendments, asserting that the law benefits poor and Pasmanda Muslims.
"The parliament has passed the law after more than 12 hours of debate, and after the assent of the President it has become law of the land. The Supreme Court has the right to interpret it, and there have been some petitions calling the law as unconstitutional, or an attack on religious freedom, or that the land will be taken away. They say outside that it is unconstitutional an attack on religious freedom, but in the court they just raise these issues (of Waqf by users, non-muslim members). The Supreme Court heard them, they did not stop the implementation but just gave the government 7 days to reply to that. There are 73 petitions, and the Supreme Court has asked both sides to appoint five lawyers," Pal explained.
He emphasized that Waqf boards across the country are statutory bodies, not religious entities, responsible for managing Waqf properties.
"All the decisions till now have said that it is a not a religious body, but an executive body, a statutory body which just takes care of properties. On the dispute over properties, above the District Magistrate, the decision on cases will be taken by Secretary or Commissioner rank but the same question has been raised by Sibal and others," he added.
The Centre assured the Supreme Court during an April 17 hearing that they would not denotify any 'Waqf-by-user' provision or include non-Muslim members in the Board.
"The Parliamentary Committee has addressed the issues of what will be the role of the DM, why non-muslim members should be allowed, this is because Waqf Board is not a religious body, it is for taking care of Waqf properties in the country, under the Waqf Act, this decision that this is a statutory body not a religion body has been taken in Rajasthan and otherwise too. There was a decision by Supreme Court in 2010, and then in Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu similar things have happened," Pal stated.
Regarding Waqf-by-user provisions, Pal assured that properties being used for their intended purposes and where namaz is being read would remain as Waqf.
"On the Waqf by user, the amendment has been made prospective, ending the retrospective. If namaz is being read in masjid, kabristan or other places then that place will remain Waqf. The opposition is political, Congress is misleading the people... It is the law of the land and it is in favour of poor Pasmanda Muslims," he said.
Multiple petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Act, claiming discrimination against the Muslim community and violation of fundamental rights.
Several BJP-led state governments, including Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh, have filed impleadment applications supporting the Act.
Advocates and organizations representing tribal and Hindu rights have also submitted applications defending the law.
The Supreme Court will focus on directions and interim orders in its next hearing, with a final resolution expected to follow.