President Approves Waqf Amendment Act 2025, New Waqf Law Comes Into Effect

New Delhi: The Waqf Amendment Bill has officially become law following President Draupadi Murmu’s approval on Saturday. The legislation, now known as the ‘Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025,’ introduces strict rules governing the management, registration, and claims related to Waqf properties, including those on government lands. These measures are intended to increase transparency and accountability within the Waqf Board.

The bill was passed after intense debate during the second phase of Parliament’s Budget session, securing 288 votes in favor in the Lok Sabha and 128 votes in the Rajya Sabha. While the ruling BJP and its allies supported the bill, opposition parties voiced strong objections. The government claims the law will prevent the misuse of Waqf properties and protect the rights of their rightful owners.

Under the new law, all Waqf properties must be registered with written documentation, and the claiming of government lands as Waqf properties is now prohibited. Any property found to be disputed or owned by the government will not be registered as Waqf, with the Collector given the authority to investigate. Within six months, all Waqf properties must be fully documented and registered on an online portal.

waqf bill

Additionally, the law mandates the formation of separate Waqf boards for the Bohra and Aghakhani communities, ensures the appointment of two non-Muslim members and women to the Waqf Board, and shifts the responsibility for surveying Waqf properties from the Survey Commissioner to the Collector.

Despite the government’s assurances, the bill has sparked legal challenges. On Friday, Congress MP Mohammad Jawed and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi approached the Supreme Court, challenging the validity of the Waqf Amendment Bill. They argue the law violates constitutional provisions.

Jawed, a Lok Sabha MP from Kishanganj in Bihar, contends that the bill imposes “arbitrary restrictions” on Waqf properties and their management, undermining the religious autonomy of the Muslim community. His petition, filed through advocate Anas Tanwir, claims the bill discriminates against Muslims by introducing restrictions that are not imposed on the governance of religious endowments of other communities.

Owaisi, in his separate petition filed through advocate Lzafeer Ahmad, argues that the bill diminishes the protections afforded to Waqfs, while similar protections remain for Hindu, Jain, and Sikh religious and charitable endowments. He claims this constitutes discriminatory treatment against Muslims, violating Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, which prohibit religious discrimination.

While the government maintains that the law is in the national interest and will strengthen the Waqf system, the opposition views it as interference in religious matters, with legal challenges now set to determine the law’s constitutional validity.