What is waqf bill ?

 The Waqf amendment bill 2025

Introduction:

Islamic tradition and law provide the origins for the concept of ‘Waqf’. A Muslim implements Waqf by giving away property that includes land or building or financial resources to construct mosques as well as schools and hospitals and public institutions. Upon donation of a Waqf property it becomes completely prohibited for any transaction including sales or inheritance or positive loan security measures. Waqf establishment requires the waqif to relinquish total ownership rights of their donated assets. Once a donation takes place the given property becomes God's property. According to Islamic belief God is eternal and thus Waqf donations are meant to exist perpetually. read more

Addresing issues:

Waqf property management isn't transparent, which makes it hard to track how these properties are used or maintained.

Many waqf lands haven’t been properly surveyed or recorded, and the ownership details (mutation) are incomplete or outdated.

Women’s rights to inherit waqf property are not clearly protected or enforced under current laws.

There are thousands of unresolved legal cases, including those about illegal occupation (encroachment). For example, in 2013 there were over 10,000 such cases—now that number has doubled to more than 21,000.

Waqf Boards have too much unchecked power. They can declare any property as waqf land based on their own investigation, without a proper legal process.

Many disputes involve government land being wrongfully declared as waqf property, leading to serious conflicts.

There’s a lack of proper financial management—many waqf properties don’t have regular audits or transparent accounting.

The management system for waqf properties is inefficient, with a lot of red tape and poor administration.

Trust properties are not handled properly or respectfully, often being misused or neglected.

Key people who are directly affected by waqf decisions (like local beneficiaries or donors) don’t have enough representation on the Central and State Waqf Boards.