Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 Passed by Rajya Sabha Amid Intense Debate

In a marathon 12 sightseeing debate, the Rajya Sabha, on Monday, April 4, 2025, approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 during the early hours of April 4, 2025. The bill was passed 128–95. It was ushered through the Lok Sabha on April 3, 2025, with an endorsement of 288 votes for and 232 against.

Key Provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025

The Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 mentions that a number of reforms are to be incorporated to improve the management and transparency of waqf properties or the endowments made by Muslims to be spent on religious, educational, or charitable purposes. Specifically, the bill has the following objectives:

The most contested demands are the inclusion of non-Muslim members in state waqf boards. Its supporters say this measure will encourage diversity and oversight in the boards.

In addition, the legislation provides the government with a greater role in verifying the ownership of waqf lands. This move is aimed at curbing corruption and mismanagement in the waqf institutions by bringing more transparency.

It also provides a number of significant features, which include safeguarding heritage sites and also promotes social welfare. The bill seeks improved utilization of waqf resources towards the upliftment of Muslim women, particularly widows and divorcees, for economic and social security.

Government’s Justification

The bill, which Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced, said that the amendments aim to benefit millions of underprivileged Muslims by granting better governance of waqf properties. He added that the legislation does not impinge on the waqf properties at all but is designed to increase transparency and inclusiveness.

The government works with the vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, and we do not discriminate against any community,’ Rijiju reiterated. The minister said that the reforms should bring efficiency and inclusivity to waqf board functioning to minimize bureaucratic delays and conflicts.

Opposition’s Concerns

However, the bill came under a huge barrage of opposition from Muslim organizations and other political parties. According to critics, the inclusion of non-Muslim members in waqf boards tramples on the constitutional rights of Muslims. It threatens to snatch pieces of Muslim religious history that lack formal documentation.

As a blatant infringement of the constitutional rights of Muslim citizens, the bill has been condemned by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, and it plans public demonstrations and legal challenges. The board says that permitting non-Muslims to take part in controlling Muslim endowments may dilute these bodies’ religious characteristics and cultural autonomy.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the logic of why non-Muslims can be a part of waqf boards while a similar body overseeing other religious charities does not allow those. The bill is discriminatory and politically motivated, and this will set a bad precedent for minority rights in India, he said.

Debate and Legislative Process

The bill was debated for a long time and more than 12 hours in the Rajya Sabha, with deliberations ending in the early hours of April 4 2025. The proposed amendments proved contentious enough to be carried over for a prolonged session. The bill passed with a huge majority in both houses of Parliament, despite the strong objections and emotional appeals by the opposition.

Next Steps

After passing through both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 has been cleared for assent by President Droupadi Murmu. Once it has presidential assent, the government will be responsible for the formulation and implementation of the necessary rules and regulations for enforcement of the same.

They’ll have provisions regarding the appointment of non-Muslim members, their roles and responsibilities, and the non-Muslim members’ compliance with the overall objective of transparency and accountability.

Implications and Reactions

The governance of waqf properties in India is one of the most important aspects of the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Its supporters consider the proposed amendments to endowments management as facilitating greater transparency, efficiency and benevolent contribution to society at large and to the Muslim community in particular.

However, detractors worry that the modifications will undermine the autonomy of waqf boards and interfere with the rights of Muslims to control their religious and charitable properties. However, civil society groups and community leaders, along with legal experts, have called for a nuanced implementation strategy to prevent the misuse of or overreach under the new provisions.

Such strong reactions are also being elicited from different stakeholders as the bill nears presidential assent. The Waqf Amendment Bill developments mirror a complicated network of religion, politics and governance in India’s pluralist and dynamic democratic construct.