Parliament Budget Session Day 17 LIVE updates: Parliament clears Waqf Amendment Bill

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• lok sabha

  April 04, 2025 12:08

  Lok Sabha chair defends Waqf Bill debate

  Retaliating to remarks by Sonia Gandhi accusing the House of passing the Waqf Bill by force, Chair Om Birla condemns the statements by her, asserting that a fair debate was held. The Lower House has been adjourned sine die.

• rajya sabha

  April 04, 2025 12:03

  Rajya Sabha resumes, adjourned amid ruckus till 1 pm

  Within a minute of resuming at noon, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned as disruption persisted in the House. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari began speaking about waqf lands being taken over in Uttar Pradesh, but his voice is drowned out by the chorus of slogans from treasury bench members. 

• April 04, 2025 11:39

  Why treasury benches in Parliament are protesting: the West Bengal school recruitment case

  In a judgement yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld a Calcutta High Court decision which cancelled a “tainted” selection process which saw around 24,000 teachers and staff being appointed in government and government-aided schools in West Bengal. The recruitments were made by the West Bengal School Service Commission in 2016 for assistant teacher posts for classes 9 to 12, and for non-teaching posts. The process was linked to a cash-for-school-jobs scams.

  The High Court had delivered its judgement last April, and this decision had been appealed by the West Bengal government, which contended that the Court had “acted in an erroneous manner by mechanically cancelling all the appointments without segregating and examining the merits of each individual recruitment.” It also pointed to effect of sudden termination on school education in the State. 

  Read more about the judgement here.

• rajya sabha

  April 04, 2025 11:30

  Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon

• rajya sabha

  April 04, 2025 11:30

  Zero Hour commences in Rajya Sabha, with some ruckus

  There is a commotion in the House as Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar mentions that matters raised with permission of Chair can be taken up. It is unclear at first why the members are protesting. 

  BJP MP Dr. Laxmikant Bajpayee informs the Chair that the Supreme Court has upheld the High Court’s decision pertaining to lapses in the process of recruitment of teachers in West Bengal. He aserts that there has been injustice towards OBCs.

  The Chair gives Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien permission to speak, but the House remains in disorder and is adjourned till noon.

• rajya sabha

  April 04, 2025 11:19

  Papers and reports laid on the table of the House in Rajya Sabha

• rajya sabha

  April 04, 2025 11:16

  Birendra Prasad Baishya and Mission Ranjan Das retiring from their term in June.

  Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar informs the House that Birendra Prasad Baishya and Mission Ranjan Das, representing the State of Assam, will retire from their term on June 14, 2025. Mr. Dhankhar describes the experience and achievements of the two members and conveys his appreciation for contributions and service of both members to parliamentary democracy and society at large. He extends his wishes on behalf of the entire House. 

• lok sabha

  April 04, 2025 11:11

  Lok Sabha resumes proceedings, adjourned quickly till noon

  Lok Sabha resumes proceedings at 11 a.m. and takes up Question Hour. There is sloganeering in the House and members do not heed Speaker Om Birla’s request for silence and decorum. He adjourns the House till 12 p.m. 

• rajya sabha

  April 04, 2025 11:03

  Rajya Sabha resumes proceedings

  The House kicks off proceedings with Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar presiding. The House offers birthday greetings to Shaktisinh Goel and Arun Singh. The Chair also offers wishes to Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and R. Dharmar, who celebrate their birthdays tomorrow.

• April 04, 2025 10:36

  Congress to challenge Waqf bill soon in Supreme Court

  The Congress on Friday (April 4, 2025) 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”.

  “We are confident and will continue to resist all assaults of the Modi Govt on the principles, provisions, and practices that are contained in the Constitution of India,” he said.

  Mr. Ramesh said the INC’s challenge of the CAA, 2019 is being heard in the Supreme Court.

• lok sabha

  April 04, 2025 10:35

  Lok Sabha passes Waqf Bill after 12-hour debate

  The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (amendment) Bill well past midnight on Wednesday after a marathon 12-hour-long debate, with Home Minister Amit Shah categorically assuring the Muslim community that the new Bill does not interfere with their religious practices.

  The Home Minister also accused the Opposition of “fear-mongering” for the sake of “vote bank” politics.

  Lok Sabha passes Waqf Bill after 12-hour debate

• rajya sabha

  April 04, 2025 10:34

  Parliament clears Waqf Amendment Bill

  Parliament in the wee hours of Friday (April 4, 2025) morning cleared the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, after nearly 14-hour debate in Rajya Sabha by 128 members voting in favour and 95 against. The government maintained that the law is not directed against the Muslims, instead it only aims to bring transparency in the administration of Waqf properties, while the Opposition alleged that it was aimed at reducing Muslims as “second-class citizens” and questioned both “intent and content” of the bill. 

  Parliament clears Waqf Amendment Bill

• lok sabha

  April 04, 2025 09:28

  Papers to be laid on the table in Lok Sabha

  GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT for Ministry of Culture;

  PRATAPRAO JADHAV for Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare;

  JAYANT CHAUDHARY for Ministry of Education;

  PANKAJ CHAUDHARY for Ministry of Finance;

  ANUPRIYA PATEL for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare;

  PROF. S. P. SINGH BAGHEL for Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying;

  KIRTIVARDHAN SINGH for Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change;

  SHANTANU THAKUR for Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways;

  KAMLESH PASWAN for Ministry of Rural Development; 

  SUKANTA MAJUMDAR for Ministry of Education; 

  SAVITRI THAKUR for Ministry of Women and Child Development; and 

  PABITRA MARGHERITA for Ministry of Textiles. 

• rajya sabha

  April 04, 2025 09:28

  Papers to be laid on table in Rajya Sabha

  SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; 

  SHRI JITIN PRASADA for Ministry of Commerce and Industry; 

  SHRIMATI ANUPRIYA PATEL for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; 

  DR. L. MURUGAN for Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; 

  SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN for Ministry of Rural Development; 

  SHRI RAVNEET SINGH for Ministry of Railways; 

  SHRI MURLIDHAR MOHOL for Ministry of Civil Aviation; and 

  SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA for Ministry of Textiles.