After more than 12-hour debate in Lok Sabha, the upper house on Friday passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 with 128 votes in favour and 95 against. The bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it in the lower house.
According to the ministry of minority affairs, the bill addresses various longstanding issues including, lakh of transparency, incomplete surveys and mutation of Waqf land records, insufficient provisions for women’s inheritance rights among others.
A total of 10,381 cases of litigations including encroachment were pending in 2013 which have now increased to 21,618 cases. This bill will address this issue.
Under the new amendment, the bill aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties, with provisions to safeguard heritage sites and promote social welfare.
“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. As of September 2024, across 25 States and UTs Waqf Boards, a total of 5973 government properties have been declared as Waqf properties,” the ministry said.
The Bill also seeks to improve the economic and social status of Muslim women, particularly widows and divorced women, by promoting self-help groups (SHGs) and financial independence programmes.
“The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 establishes a secular, transparent, and accountable system for Waqf administration. While Waqf properties serve religious and charitable purposes, their management involves legal, financial, and administrative responsibilities that require structured governance,” the ministry stated.
It further said that the role of Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council (CWC) is not religious but regulatory, ensuring legal compliance and safeguarding public interest. By introducing checks and balances, empowering stakeholders, and improving governance, the Bill sets a progressive and fair framework for Waqf administration in India.
