Parliament highlights: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die amid ruckus over Waqf Bill

Parliament highlights: Catch all the latest news developments here

The Waqf Amendment bill, having passed easily through the Lok Sabha, cleared the Rajya Sabha just 24 hours later following another lengthy debate. The voting resulted in 128 votes supporting the bill and 95 opposing it. 

Minorities Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju began the debate by rejecting claims that the bill would damage Muslim interests and emphasized that non-Muslims cannot intervene in the Waqf Board's operations since its management, establishment, and beneficiaries would continue to be exclusively Muslim.

 

Tabling the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Kiren Rijiju listed the amendments that the government has brought in the redrafted Bill. These include keeping protected monuments outside the ambit of Waqf, protecting the Fifth and Sixth Schedule Areas of the Constitution and changing the provisions related to the number of members of tribunals, as suggested by the joint committee of Parliament, to be set up under the proposed law. 

The Congress on Friday said it will "very soon" challenge in the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the Wakf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 that was passed in Parliament. The Waqf (Amendment) bill was cleared by Parliament early Friday, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod. In a post on X, AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The INC will very soon be challenging in the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the Wakf (Amendment) Bill, 2024".

 

What is Waqf?

Waqf refers to a religious or charitable endowment of property, primarily within the Muslim community. These properties are often donated without formal documentation, with their revenues allocated to maintaining mosques, graveyards, madrasas, and orphanages. The revised legislation broadens access to High Courts and enhances central government supervision.

1:16 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has adjourned the House sine die.

1:14 PM

Parliament LIVE news update: Rajya Sabha resumes at 1 pm

12:39 PM

Rajya Sabha resumes, adjourned amid ruckus till 1 pm

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned within a minute of reconvening at noon due to continuing disruption in the House. 

11:51 AM

Parliament update: Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon

The Upper House was adjourned till 12 noon as treasury benches raised slogans over the top court's decision to invalidate teachers' jobs in West Bengal.

11:49 AM

Zero Hour begins in Rajya Sabha with some ruckus

Commotion in the House begins. 

11:36 AM

Lok Sabha resumes proceedings, adjourned till noon

Lok Sabha resumed proceedings at 11 am.  Speaker Om Birla adjourns the House till 12 pm after sloganeering in the House.  

10:45 AM

Congress will very soon be challenging in Supreme Court constitutionality of Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025

We are confident and will continue to resist all 'assaults' of Modi govt on principles contained in Constitution, says Jairam Ramesh.