Summary
Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025 introduced in Lok Sabha. Ban on declaring government property as Waqf. UMEED Bill will improve the management of Waqf properties.
Waqf Bill: The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. It brings significant changes to the administration of waqf properties in India. One of its most important provisions prohibits any government property - whether identified or declared as waqf land before or after the enactment of the Bill - from being treated as waqf property.
The Waqf Amendment Bill will be renamed as UMEED Bill (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment Efficiency and Development) to reflect its updated objectives. The UMEED Bill aims to reform the existing waqf system and enhance the management, transparency and accountability of waqf properties. By introducing integrated reforms, it seeks to empower local waqf boards, improve operational efficiency and ensure better utilisation of waqf properties for community development.
Key provisions of the amendment
According to Section 3C of the Bill, if there is a dispute over whether a property is government land or Wakf property, the matter should be referred to the district collector, who will conduct an inquiry and submit a report to the state government. Until the report is submitted, the property in question will not be treated as Wakf land.
If the Collector determines that the property belongs to the government, necessary corrections will be made in the revenue records. On receipt of the Collector's report, the State Government will direct the Wakf Board to correct its records accordingly.
Addressing incorrect declaration of Waqf properties
The amendment aims to address concerns about government land being wrongly classified as waqf property. Over the years, there have been several cases where public land, including hospitals, schools and government offices, was claimed as waqf property, leading to legal disputes and administrative challenges.
Introducing the bill, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the amendment was necessary to ensure transparency and fairness in the management of Waqf properties. He asserted that the government is not against any community but is working to remove past anomalies and protect public resources.
Opposition and debate
The bill has sparked intense debate in Parliament, with the opposition accusing the government of forcefully passing the legislation without adequate discussion. Congress MP KC Venugopal argued that MPs were not given enough time to move amendments, while RSP MP NK Premachandran objected to the procedural aspects of the introduction of the bill.
Home Minister Amit Shah defended the bill, saying all the changes were based on the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which had comprehensively reviewed the provisions before presenting the final draft.
A historic shift in estate administration
With the Waqf Amendment Bill, the government seeks to modernise the administration of waqf properties, prevent unauthorised claims and bring clarity to land ownership records. If passed, the bill is expected to streamline land disputes and ensure that government properties remain free from encroachments under the pretext of waqf declarations.
As the Bill moves towards a final vote, all eyes are on the floor of the Lok Sabha, where the numbers will ultimately decide the fate of this landmark reform in Waqf administration.
