2 weeks Ago
Days after Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan on Saturday moved the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the bill. On Thursday, both the Houses of the Parliament passed the bill following hours-long discussion. In the Lok Sabha, the bill was passed with a 288-232 vote and in Rajya Sabha, with 128-95 votes.
The bill now is waiting for Presidential nod. According to a report by the Hindustan times , AAP MLA and Delhi Waqf Board chairman Amanatullah Khan, the bill allegedly meddles with the "religious and cultural autonomy of Muslims, enables arbitrary executive interference, and undermines minority rights to manage their religious and charitable institutions." A day before, a similar move came from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress MP Mohammad Jawed.
BY Outlook Web Desk Owaisi, Congress Oppose Bill It has been reported that the Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi, and Congress MP Mohammad Jawed filed two separate petitions under Article 32 of the Constitution on Friday. Both the opposition leaders reportedly urged the top court to strike down the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which the Opposition has deemed as “unconstitutional” and “anti-Muslim”. According to their petitions, the amendments introduced to the Waqf Act violate Muslim community’s protections under Articles 25 and 26 (right to practice, profess and propagate religion), while retaining them for other religious groups, thereby violating a string of other fundamental rights pertaining to equality, dignity and minority rights.
BY Outlook Web Desk About The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 The objective of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 is to redress the issues and challenges concerning regulation and managing of the Waqf properties. Defending the amendment move, the ministry of minority affairs said that the main purpose of the bill is to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India. Centre earlier said that the bill seeks bring improvement in the overall administration process of the Waqf properties by means of technology-driven management to ensure transparency.
Alongside introducing modern technology, Centre claimed that the bill also aims to rename the Act, update the definitions of waqf, improve the registration process. According to the BJP-led Centre, the major issues regarding Waqf Board in India include the lack of diversity in the constitution of the board, irrevocability of waqf properties, lack of judicial oversight, misuse of provisions among others. BY Outlook Web Desk What Are The Major Features Of The Bill? The 2025 amendment bill aims to change the name of the Waqf Act, 1995 to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995 .
According to the bill, trusts created by Muslims under any law will no longer be considered Waqf, ensuring full control over the trusts. As per the amended bill, only Muslims, who are practising the religion for at least five years, only can dedicate their property to Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules. The bill also included a key change concerning the inclusion of Muslim women and non-Muslims in institutions such as Central Waqf Council, State Waqf Boards, and waqf tribunals.
Under this bill, the Centre will have the power to appoint three MPs - two from the Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha, without them requiring to be Muslims. The bill also allows the central government to make rules regarding registration, publication of accounts of waqf, and publication of proceedings of waqf boards. Centre can also order an audit of the accounts of waqfs by the CAG or a designated officer.
The bill also proposes that an officer above the rank of collector will investigate government properties claimed as Waqf. In case of disputes, the senior government official will have the final say on whether a property belongs to Waqf or the government which currently is decided by Waqf tribunals..
