Waqf Law Sparks National Debate: Transparency Move or Religious Overreach?

The Waqf law has sparked national debate and protests have turned violent across the country. The amendment of Waqf Act 1995 has once again reignited political and legal tensions, raising critical questions about religious autonomy, state power, and property rights. The central government has assured minority communities that the act aims to ensure transparency and curb misuse of Waqf properties. While opposition leaders and Muslim organizations term it as the government’s direct interference into the community’s religious affairs. 

What Is the Waqf Act?

The Waqf law governs the administration of religious endowments (Waqf properties) in India, typically mosques, graveyards, dargahs, and other charitable establishments managed under Islamic tradition. The 1995 Act, amended in 2013, created Waqf Boards in every state to manage such properties. Over the years, these Boards have come under fire for lack of transparency, political interference, and controversial land claims.

What the 2025 Amendment Proposes- Waqf law

The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, recently passed in Parliament, brings several significant changes:

Inclusion of Non-Muslim Members

For the first time, the bill proposes appointing non-Muslims to Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council. The government argues this ensures broader representation. Critics argue it undermines religious self-governance.

Restriction on Declaring Properties as Waqf

Waqf Boards can no longer unilaterally declare land or property as Waqf without prior survey and consent, especially government land.

Empowering District Collectors

The amendment boosts the role of district magistrates (Collectors) in surveying and resolving disputes involving Waqf properties, raising concerns over bureaucratic overreach.

Reduced Powers of Waqf Tribunals

The amendment limits the scope of Waqf Tribunals, shifting certain legal disputes to civil courts, potentially slowing down grievance redressal.

Political and Legal Fallout

The Waqf Law 2025 is being criticized by opposition parties and received severe backlash from various Muslim organizations. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has already filed a petition in the Supreme Court, calling the amendment an “unconstitutional assault on religious autonomy.”

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board among other civil society wings have warned that the newly passed law can grant power to the state in taking over historic mosques and graveyards. Many of these sites of cultural significance are prone to encroachment by state authorities since they lack proper documentation of ownership.

The BJP stands firm on their stance of implementing the law, as its necessity prevents land encroachment and puts an end to “Waqf Mafias.” The Bjp ruled states have begun surveying Waqf lands under the law.

Bigger Questions, Deeper Impact

While many experts believe the Waqf law 2025 raises an important question of how the Indian state views the management of religious assets. Legal scholar Faizan Mustafa shared his opinion on the Waqf law, “While reform is necessary, this must be done with sensitivity to religious freedoms and constitutional balance. Otherwise, it sets a dangerous precedent.”

What Happens Next?

The law has turned controversial in nature soon after it gained the President’s nod. Given the legal challenge in the Supreme Court and rising public protests in some states, the road ahead could be turbulent.

For now, the Waqf law, which was once confined to bureaucratic files, has now become the center of India’s politics, law, and identity debates.

Edited By Pranoy Shukla