Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 8: The Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, which brings significant changes to the regulation and administration of Islamic charitable endowments in India, officially came into effect on Tuesday, according to a government notification.
The Act, passed by the Lok Sabha on April 3 and by the Rajya Sabha a day later, received presidential assent on April 5. It was formally brought into force through a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 (14 of 2025), the Central Government hereby appoints the 8th day of April, 2025 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force,” read the notification signed by Joint Secretary Shersha C Shaik Mohiddin.
The law overhauls several core provisions related to the creation, recognition, and management of waqfs Islamic charitable trusts sparking widespread criticism and a wave of legal challenges from political leaders, religious organisations, and civil rights groups.
Petitions have already been filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress MP Mohammed Jawed, Delhi legislator Amanatullah Khan, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, Samastha Kerala Jamiatul Ulema, and the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, among others.
The Union government has defended the amendments, stating they are aimed at increasing transparency, curbing corruption, and improving accountability in the management of waqf properties.
However, critics argue that the changes undermine both religious autonomy and constitutional rights. One of the most controversial provisions requires individuals to prove they have practised Islam for at least five years before they can create a waqf, a move petitioners claim excludes new converts and interferes with personal religious freedoms.
Legal proceedings on the matter are expected to intensify in the coming weeks as various stakeholders prepare to challenge the new law in court.