Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 as Rajya Sabha grants approval

New Delhi, ANB: Parliament has passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, with the Rajya Sabha approval . The Upper House cleared the Bill with 128  members voting in favour of it while 95 members voted against the legislation. The Rajya Sabha held a discussion on the Bill for around 12 hours. The Lok Sabha has already approved the Bill.

 According to  Associated News Bureau, ANB, The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties, with provisions to safeguard heritage sites and promote social welfare. The legislation also aims to improve governance by enhancing transparency in property management, streamlining coordination between Waqf Boards and local authorities and protecting stakeholders’ rights.

The Bill also seeks to improve the economic and social status of Muslim women, particularly widows and divorced women. The Bill is intended to make the Waqf Board more inclusive, having representation from different Muslim sects for better Waqf governance and decision-making. The Waqf (Amendment) establishes a secular, transparent, and accountable system for Waqf administration. Replying to a debate on the bill, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that crores of poor Muslims will benefit from this legislation and in no way does it harm any single Muslim. He said, the legislation does not interfere in the Waqf properties. He said the Narendra Modi government works with the vision of Sabka Saath and Sabka Vikas, and it does not discriminate against any community. He said that poor and Pasmanda Muslims came to meet him and urged that the bill should be passed soon. He said that the government wants to bring the Muslims into the mainstream of the country. As per News Service Associated News Bureau ANB that the Minority Affairs Minister said that the bill has been brought after a detailed consultation with the stakeholders as well as in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. He urged the opposition parties to support this bill.

While participating in the discussion, Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain of the Congress said that this bill is misleading and has been brought with the intention of communal polarisation. He alleged that the BJP is trying to divide the communities. He said that during the BJP government, the budget was not allocated for the Waqf Council, and salaries were not paid to the employees of the council. Interrupting Dr. Hussain, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the opposition is trying to mislead the people.

 Participating in the debate, Union Minister and Leader of the House JP Nadda hoped that the House would support UMEED- Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development. He added that the basic aim of this Bill is to bring in reforms and proper management of Waqf properties. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge opposed the Bill and demanded the government to withdraw it. He said that there are shortcomings in the bill and it is against the Constitutional norms. ANB.