President Murmu Enacts Waqf Amendment Bill 2025: A New Chapter for Property Management
New Delhi: On Saturday, April 5, 2025, President Draupadi Murmu officially signed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, into law, marking a significant legislative milestone following its passage through both houses of Parliament earlier this week. The Union Law Ministry confirmed the development in a notification, noting that the legislation, now known as the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, received presidential assent on the same day it cleared its final parliamentary hurdle.
The bill’s journey through Parliament was marked by intense debate, culminating in its approval by the Lok Sabha on April 3 with a vote of 288 to 232 after more than 12 hours of discussion. The Rajya Sabha followed suit on April 4, passing the measure with 128 votes in favor and 95 against after a 15-hour deliberation. Alongside the Waqf amendment, President Murmu also approved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, which nullifies a pre-independence law, as announced in a separate government notification.
The newly enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, introduces reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of waqf properties assets dedicated under Islamic law for religious or charitable purposes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the legislation as a transformative step, stating in a post on X that it would empower marginalized communities by amplifying their voices and opportunities. He emphasized that the act, paired with the repeal of the older Mussalman Wakf law, represents a commitment to socio-economic justice and inclusive growth.
However, the legislation has sparked swift legal challenges. Hours after receiving presidential assent, Congress MP Mohammad Jawed and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi filed separate petitions in the Supreme Court, contesting the act’s constitutional validity. Jawed’s plea argues that the amendments impose unreasonable restrictions on waqf property management, infringing on the Muslim community’s religious autonomy. Owaisi’s petition, lodged through advocate Lzafeer Ahmad, contends that the act weakens safeguards for waqf properties compared to protections afforded to Hindu, Jain, and Sikh endowments, raising concerns about fairness.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, builds on the existing Waqf Act of 1995, refining the legal framework governing properties that, once designated as waqf, cannot be sold, inherited, or gifted. With its passage into law, attention now shifts to the Supreme Court, where its provisions face scrutiny amid ongoing debates over equity and governance in religious property administration, these developments as they unfolded, capturing the polarized reactions to this landmark legislation.