Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 , right or wrong?

President Droupadi Murmu granted her assent on Saturday, April 5, to two key legislations — the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025. According to an official notification, the Waqf (Amendment) Act has come into effect starting Tuesday.

 The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was cleared by Parliament on Friday, following an intense 13-hour debate in the Rajya Sabha. While the Opposition strongly criticized the Bill, labeling it "anti-Muslim" and "unconstitutional," the government defended the move, describing it as a "historic reform" intended to uplift the minority community. 

 In the Rajya Sabha, the Bill was passed with 128 votes in favor and 95 against. A day earlier, the Lok Sabha approved the Bill with 288 members supporting it and 232 opposing. Parliament also gave the green light to the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill. After it was passed by both Houses — the Lok Sabha first, followed by the Rajya Sabha — the Mussalman Wakf Act of 1923 has officially been repealed.

Let's see how people reacted to this achievement.
 

The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 4, 2025

 

आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के यशस्वी नेतृत्व में संसद के दोनों सदनों में 'वक्फ (संशोधन) विधेयक, 2025' के पारित होने की सभी को बधाई!

यह विधेयक वक्फ संपत्तियों के प्रबंधन से जुड़ी समस्याओं के समाधान के साथ ही वक्फ संपत्तियों को अवैध कब्जों और भ्रष्टाचार से मुक्ति…

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) April 4, 2025

Several petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. 

Among the petitioners are Congress MP Mohammad Jawed and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, who last week moved the apex court questioning the legality of the newly-enacted law. According to PTI, more than 10 petitions have been submitted, including those by political leaders, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. In his petition, Jawed argued that the Act places “arbitrary restrictions” on Waqf properties, thereby undermining the religious autonomy of the Muslim community.

 He claimed the law discriminates against Muslims by imposing limitations not applied to religious endowments of other communities.

 Jawed, who represents Kishanganj in Bihar and was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee that reviewed the Bill, further contended that the Act introduces constraints on the creation of Waqfs based on the duration of religious practice, which he says is unjustified. In a separate petition, Owaisi contended that the Act strips Waqfs of legal protections afforded to religious and charitable endowments of other faiths. He argued that this differential treatment is discriminatory and violates Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality and prohibit discrimination based on religion.