New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, the Union Law Ministry said in a notification on Saturday.
The Bill was passed by Parliament after three days of intense debate in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
The legislation has been challenged by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress MP Mohammed Javed in the Supreme Court on grounds of violating constitutional principles.
The government, however, categorically denied that the amended law interfered with religious practices of Muslims.
Making an intervention in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Home Minister Amit Shah had said that Waqf — a charitable endowment — and the waqif (donor) can only be from the Muslim community.
Non-Muslims have been included in a Waqf Board or Council for administrative purposes and that too to ensure that any waqf donation is being used for the purpose it is meant for, the Home Minister added.
“There is an attempt to spread confusion that this law will interfere with their [Muslim] religious practices and the nature of donation. Such fear mongering is being done to create a vote bank,” Shah had said.
“Waqf or charitable endowment is religious, not the Waqf Board or Councils,” he added.
