New Delhi, April 22, 2025: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday defended the recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, stating that its primary objectives are to benefit economically disadvantaged Muslims and to stop the looting and misuse of Waqf properties across the country.
Addressing the media, Rijiju said, “India has the largest number of Waqf properties in the world—over 9.7 lakh. Unfortunately, many of these properties have been misused or illegally occupied. The new law aims to bring transparency, end corruption, and ensure that these properties actually serve the poor.”
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, introduces several reforms aimed at overhauling the management of Waqf assets. Key changes include the mandatory inclusion of Muslim women and non-Muslim members in Waqf boards, digitization of property records, and the application of the Limitation Act, 1963, to streamline legal proceedings.
A centralized digital portal will also be developed to register and monitor Waqf properties, in an effort to improve accountability and prevent encroachments.
However, the amendments have stirred controversy, with opposition parties and several Muslim organizations expressing concern over the inclusion of non-Muslim members in Waqf boards. Critics argue this move could compromise the autonomy of Muslim religious institutions and interfere with traditional management systems.
Despite the criticism, the Act was passed in both houses of Parliament earlier this month and received presidential assent on April 5. It officially came into force on April 8, 2025.
Rijiju reiterated that the government’s intention is not to interfere with religious matters but to ensure that Waqf properties fulfill their original purpose—supporting community welfare and charitable causes.
