Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025
The day, April 04, 2025, was not a usual day in both the houses of Parliament. India’s Parliament often debates countless Bills, but this one hit differently and it was far more intense and charged. It was a political battle of heritage, faith and governance. Members of the Rajya Sabha discussed the bill, with 128 voting in its favor and 95 opposing it. In Lok Sabha, the Bill had 288 votes in favor and 232 against in a 12-hour long discussion. The Waqf Amendment Bill aims to bring transparency to the management of Islamic charitable endowments. However, it has triggered a fierce wave of opposition, raising questions about minority rights, religious autonomy, and state overreach.
With all the debates and tension this has aroused, the Bill is no more just a policy tweak. This is a storm-quietly brewing for years that’s now struck with full force.
What exactly is the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025
Waqf refers to the assets that people donate under the Islamic law for religious or charitable use, not available for inheritance. Ideally, Muslims manage these Waqf boards, but the new amendments aim to include even the non-Muslims, hence the debate.
Here are the bill’s provisions:
- Inclusion of Non-Muslim Members: As per the latest provisions of the Bill, every Waqf board must include at least 2 non-Muslim members. This would promote diversity and transparency.
- End to “Waqf by Usage”: The Bill now says that only people who have practiced Islam for at least five years and own the property may declare a waqf, unlike earlier when properties were treated as waqf based on usage.
- Increased Government Oversight: The Bill also grants the State officials more power in verifying waqf property claims. This is aimed at eradicating corruption and mismanagement. However, with this, there also lingers a fear of property seizure and loss of community control.
Mixed Reactions to the Bill
While the Bill awaits the President, Droupadi Murmu’s final nod, it has received mixed reactions from the public and observers.
The Muslim organisations are obviously highly against the amendment since they see it as a violation to Islamic principles. They also fear that they may lose their properties if this Bill is passed.
On the other hand, the analysts hold a mixed viewpoint. Some favour the Bill, stating that the reform is necessary to bring transparency. The others say that it may undermine minority rights.
As the nation awaits the President’s decision, the discourse surrounding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill underscores the delicate balance between governance reforms and the preservation of religious autonomy in India’s diverse society.
Conclusion
Both the Houses may have passed the Bill, but the discussion does not stop here. The Bill has sparked heated debates in and out of the Parliament. The President’s verdict is still awaited but this isn’t about just paperwork. Now, it has become about power and identity.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill has thrown open a new chapter in India’s socio-political history-one that forces the nation to ask: Can governance clean up corruption without bulldozing over belief?
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