Parliament Passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill Amid Heated Debate

Parliament has passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after a marathon debate in both Houses. The Rajya Sabha approved the Bill early Friday morning with 128 votes in favor and 95 against, following the Lok Sabha’s approval on Thursday after a 12-hour discussion. The Bill will now be sent to the President for final approval before it becomes law.

The Rajya Sabha sat for an unprecedented 17 hours, with the session adjourning at 4:02 AM on Friday after rejecting all opposition-proposed amendments. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar called it a rare occasion before the House reassembled later the same morning.

Government’s Stand on the Bill

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the Bill, stating that the amendments were made based on stakeholder suggestions. He explained that while non-Muslims will now be included in the Waqf Board, their representation is limited to 4 out of 22 members.

“The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government institutions should be secular,” said Rijiju, adding that opposition parties were misleading Muslims for political gains. He accused the Congress and other opposition leaders of failing to uplift Muslims despite ruling India for decades.

Key Amendments in the Waqf Bill

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduces several major changes:

• Strengthening of Waqf tribunals for better dispute resolution. 
• Structured selection process and fixed tenure for board members. 
• Reduction of Waqf institution contributions to Waqf boards from 7% to 5%. 
• Mandatory audits for Waqf institutions earning over ₹1 lakh. 
• Centralized digital portal to improve efficiency and transparency. 
• Women’s inheritance rights must be settled before property is dedicated to Waqf. 
• Non-Muslim representation in central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity. 

Opposition Calls it a ‘Black Day’

The opposition strongly opposed the Bill, calling it unconstitutional and discriminatory. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the government for dismissing amendments and pushing forward with the legislation.

DMK MP MM Abdulla termed it a “black day for democracy”, vowing legal action. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has already announced plans to challenge the Bill in court.

Despite the controversy, the Bill is now one step away from becoming law, marking a significant change in the governance of Waqf properties across India.

Source: Mint