Context: 

Recently, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 was passed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

About Waqf

·        The concept of ‘Waqf’ is rooted in Islamic laws and traditions.

·        It refers to an endowment made by a Muslim for charitable or religious purposes, such as building mosques, schools, hospitals, or other public institutions.

·        A Waqf is inalienable- which means it cannot be sold, gifted, inherited or encumbered.

·        Once a property is divested from the waqif, i.e., the creator of a waqf, it vests in God and as per Islamic belief since God is ever lasting, so is the ‘waqf property’.

Need of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to address issues such as –

1.    Lack of transparency in waqf property management.

2.    Incomplete surveys and mutation of waqf land records.

3.    Insufficient provisions for women’s inheritance rights.

4.    Large number of prolonged litigations including encroachment.

5.    Irrational power of the waqf boards in declaring any property as waqf land based on their own inquiry.

6.    Large number of disputes related to government land declared as waqf.

7.    Lack of proper accounting and auditing of waqf properties.

8.    Administrative inefficiencies in waqf management.

9.    Improper treatment to trust properties.

10. Inadequate representation of stakeholders in Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards.   

About The Waqf(Amendment) bill

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties, with provisions to safeguard heritage sites and promote social welfare.

1. Decleration of Non-Muslim properties as waqf- The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 aims to streamline Waqf property management while safeguarding heritage sites and individual property rights. Various states have seen disputes over Waqf property claims, leading to legal battles and community concerns. 

2.      Muslim women & legal heirs rights- The Bill also seeks to improve the economic and social status of Muslim women, particularly widows and divorced women, by promoting self-help groups and financial independence programs.

3.      Tackling the administrative challenges: The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 aims to improve governance by:

·         Enhancing transparency in property management.

·         Streamlining coordination between Waqf Boards and local authorities.

·         Ensuring stakeholder rights are protected.

4.      Empowerment of backward classes & other sects of muslim communities: The Bill aims at making the Waqf Board more inclusive having representation from different Muslim sects for better Waqf governance and decision-making.

Conclusion:

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 establishes a secular, transparent, and accountable system for Waqf administration. By introducing checks and balances, empowering stakeholders, and improving governance, the Bill sets a progressive and fair framework for Waqf administration in India.