New Delhi: Senior BJP leader and Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Bill, Jagdambika Pal, on Friday said he would resign if the panel’s report was found to be unconstitutional.
“I have said it before and I say it again—if our report is unconstitutional or interferes with religious freedom, I will resign,” Pal told ANI. The BJP MP also slammed the Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, and accused them of misleading the public by alleging that the new amendments to the Waqf Act threaten religious freedom.
“This law supports the poor and the Pasmanda Muslim community. It is not an attack on religion,” he asserted.
#WATCH | Lucknow | On Waqf Amendment Act 2025, BJP MP and Waqf JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal says, “…If our report is unconstitutional or interferes with religious freedom as claimed, I will resign…” pic.twitter.com/gnuba77pDT
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2025
According to Pal, the law was passed after over 12 hours of parliamentary debate and it had received Presidential assent. His remark comes at a time when multiple petitions have challenged the law’s constitutional validity in the Supreme Court. Pal emphasised that the court has not stayed its implementation but has merely sought a response from the government within seven days.
“There are 73 petitions. The Supreme Court has asked both sides to appoint five lawyers each to present their cases,” Pal said.
Pal also clarified that Waqf Boards were statutory executive bodies and not religious institutions. “Their (waqf bodies) role is to manage and safeguard Waqf properties—not to engage in religious activities,” he added.
#WATCH | Lucknow | On Waqf Act, BJP MP and Waqf JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal says, “… The bill was passed in the Parliamnet and was signed by the President. Now, the Waqf Act is the law of the land… Some people gave a petition in the SC calling it unconstitutional and that it… pic.twitter.com/XmaQSTPd8k
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2025
He also addressed objections regarding the ‘Waqf by user’ provision and the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Waqf Boards. These issues have been flagged by petitioners like senior advocate Kapil Sibal.
“The inclusion of non-Muslim members is justified because the Board’s role is administrative, not religious,” Pal said.
During the April 17 Supreme Court hearing, the Centre had assured that it would not denotify any ‘Waqf-by-user’ properties and would not add non-Muslim members to the Waqf Boards at this stage. Earlier, the apex court had indicated it might suspend certain provisions of the law.
“The amendment has made the Waqf-by-user provision prospective, ending its retrospective application. Places where namaz is being offered—mosques, kabristans—will remain Waqf,” Pal assured, as reported by ANI.
While numerous petitions before the Supreme Court have challenged the Act, several others have come out in support of the law.
BJP-led state governments in Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh have filed impleadment applications, along with various organisations.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue interim directions during the next hearing. The final judgment is likely to follow in the coming months.
