With ruling and Opposition MPs, who are a part of the Joint Committee of Parliament (JCP) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, seeing several run-ins, walkouts and differences of opinions in meetings, members of both camps agree that the panel is “unlikely” to submit its report in the upcoming Winter Session.

Some members say proceedings have slowed down.

“I really do not think there is any scope to submit the report during the Winter Session. During informal talks, Opposition members discussed that an extension must be sought. The issue is a complicated one and we need to meet more stakeholders, hold more consultations and undertake more study tours to understand the Bill and the consequences of implementing it,” an Opposition MP told The Indian Express.

The Centre, which on August 8 tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, referred it to the JCP following the Opposition’s objections. It tasked the panel to submit a report by the end of the first week of the Winter Session, which is scheduled to be held from November 25 to December 20.

Opposition MPs said the report would be a “total pushover” if JCP chairman and BJP MP Jagadambika Pal submits the report in the upcoming Session.

The JCP comprises 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha and includes 13 Opposition members (9 Lok Sabha and 4 Rajya Sabha).

The panel incidentally has been holding fewer sittings. While it earlier held four weekly meetings, this week it is scheduled to meet only on Thursday, where representatives of the Minority Affairs Ministry are scheduled to depose before it. So far, the JCP has held 25 meetings, some of them going on late into the evening.

While a BJP MP, who is a part of the panel, stressed that it would be “very difficult” for the panel to submit its report, another BJP member claimed it would be difficult to hold meetings, consultations and study tours as parliamentary proceedings would commence. “It looks like an extension would be sought, but it all depends on Pal,” he told The Indian Express.

Despite repeated attempts, Pal could not be reached for comment. Sources said the BJP might not mind a delay as a prolonged debate on the issue helps it keep the waqf row alive; the party has also brought it up in its Maharashtra, Jharkhand and bypoll campaigns in different states.

Since the panel was constituted, it has seen members of ruling and Opposition camps clash multiple times. On November 11, a study tour of the panel was partially put off, after Opposition MPs said they would boycott it.

On November 3, some Opposition MPs of the panel had threatened to “dissociate” from the proceedings while accusing Pal of “bulldozing proceedings” and “stonewalling” them.

The Bill proposes to radically alter the Waqf Act, 1995, with some of its proposed provisions, like the District Collector being empowered to decide disputes instead of the Waqf Tribunal, and inclusion of non-Muslims in the waqf board being met with fierce criticism from Opposition quarters.