The Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as proposed by a Joint Parliamentary Committee for consideration and passage after Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday tabled the bill.
The controversial bill includes some major changes to the Waqf Act, 1995. Recently, the bill was cleared by the Union Cabinet after the 655-pages-long report on amendments suggested by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) were approved by majority of votes. However, 11 MPs objected and submitted their dissenting opinions.
The term 'Waqf' means voluntary, permanent, irrevocable endowment made by a Muslim to a religious, charitable or educational cause under Islamic law. In India, law prohibits any other use or sale of the waqf property.
As per a report by Hindustan Times, India owns the largest waqf holding in the world and it reportedly controls 8.7 lakh properties spanning 9.4 lakh acres across the country.
About The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
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.
Among the major issues regarding Waqf Board in India are the lack of diversity in the constitution of the board, irrevocability of waqf properties, lack of judicial oversight, misuse of provisions among others.
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.
Opposition's Protest Against The Bill
While the JPC's amendments were recently approved by the Union Cabinet by majority voting in favor of the bill, names of the certain important Opposition leaders including Congress바카라s Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule, AAP바카라s Sanjay Singh and others opposed the bill and termed it 바카라unconstitutional바카라 and 바카라divisive바카라.
Congress leader Khaleequr Rahman claimed that the Joint Parliamentary Committee neglected the recommendations of the Opposition.
바카라The entire exercise is being done in a very unconstitutional manner. All the recommendations which were submitted by most of the JPC members of the opposition parties have not been considered and taken into account, and rather, the BJP is trying to bulldoze things and trying to pass the bill,바카라 news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
Moreover, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) also opposed the the contentious legislation. The party said it had made some suggestions to be incorporated into the Bill which were rejected.
