Rajya Sabha Passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025
In a significant legislative move, the Rajya Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, bringing sweeping reforms to the governance of waqf properties across India. Waqf, an Islamic endowment typically used for religious or charitable purposes, has long been surrounded by legal complexities, administrative inefficiencies, and disputes over land rights.
This year’s amendment marks a notable shift—aimed at increasing transparency, improving administrative accountability, and streamlining the legal framework surrounding waqf boards and waqf property management. For legal practitioners, community stakeholders, and institutions managing Islamic endowments, this bill introduces new rules and legal tools that could reshape the regulatory landscape.
Let’s dive deep into what this legislation entails, why it matters, and how it will affect waqf properties, communities, and the legal ecosystem—including how firms like Legals365 can assist in navigating the changes.
What Is Waqf and Why Is It Significant?
Waqf (plural: awqaf) is a religious endowment in Islamic law, typically donating land or assets for purposes such as building mosques, maintaining graveyards, operating schools or hospitals, or aiding the poor.
In India, waqf properties are governed under the Waqf Act of 1995, which established State Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council. As of 2024, over 7 lakh waqf properties are registered across the country—some of which are mired in disputes, encroachments, and legal ambiguities.
Key Features of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 aims to modernize and tighten the legal framework for managing waqf assets. Here are the bill’s salient features:
1. Digitization of Waqf Records
A nationwide mandate requires all waqf properties to be digitized and geo-tagged within one year. This step is expected to curb encroachments, forgeries, and unauthorized transfers.
2. Compulsory Publication of Records
Waqf Boards are now required to publicly disclose land records, audit reports, and management data on their official portals to ensure transparency and public oversight.
3. Establishment of Special Waqf Tribunals
The amendment mandates the creation of dedicated Waqf Tribunals in every state to expedite dispute resolution, replacing lengthy civil litigation processes.
4. Enhanced Powers to Central Waqf Council
The Council will now have the power to issue binding directions to State Waqf Boards and review their financial statements.
5. Protection of Tenants and Occupants
To prevent misuse, the bill protects lawful occupants who have resided on waqf land for over 30 years with verified documentation.
6. Stricter Penalties for Encroachments
The new law introduces criminal penalties including imprisonment of up to 3 years and heavy fines for illegal occupation or sale of waqf land.
Why the Amendment Was Needed
1. Widespread Encroachments
According to the 2022 report by the Central Waqf Council, nearly 30% of waqf land in metropolitan areas like Delhi, Hyderabad, and Lucknow was encroached upon—largely due to lack of monitoring.
2. Outdated Recordkeeping
Waqf records were historically maintained in paper format, leaving room for manipulation and forgery.
3. Legal Paralysis
Due to jurisdictional overlaps and a shortage of dedicated forums, waqf-related disputes often dragged on for years in civil courts, denying justice to rightful stakeholders.
4. Mismanagement and Corruption Allegations
Several waqf boards have faced allegations of misappropriation of funds, with limited mechanisms for accountability.
How This Impacts Key Stakeholders
For Muslim Communities
Greater transparency and legal clarity will help ensure that waqf assets serve the community, as originally intended—be it through educational institutions, graveyards, or charitable works.
For Tenants and Occupants
Law-abiding residents who have lived on waqf properties for decades can now regularize their occupation and avoid eviction, provided they meet criteria.
For Legal Professionals
The establishment of dedicated waqf tribunals opens new avenues for legal practitioners specializing in property law, civil litigation, and religious trust laws.
For Developers and Investors
Private parties interested in public-private collaborations for building schools or hospitals on waqf land now have a clearer legal roadmap and regulatory framework.
How Legals365 Can Help You Navigate the New Waqf Law
With over 700,000 waqf properties and the new amendment adding complex legal layers, professional legal guidance is now more crucial than ever. This is where Legals365 steps in.
How Legals365 Supports You:
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Legal Consultation on Waqf Law – Understand your rights and obligations under the amended act.
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Waqf Tribunal Representation – Our lawyers represent clients in dedicated waqf tribunals across India.
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Property Verification & Due Diligence – Before acquiring or leasing waqf land, let us help you verify its legality.
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Documentation & Title Clearance – Drafting and reviewing waqf deeds, tenancy agreements, and land transfer forms.
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Community Guidance – Support for community trusts or religious bodies managing endowments.
Whether you’re a waqf board member, a tenant, or a community organization—Legals365 offers practical legal tools to protect your interests.
Real-Life Example – Legal Relief Through a Tribunal
Case: Delhi Resident vs Waqf Board
In early 2024, a 62-year-old resident living on waqf land for 38 years faced eviction by the local waqf board. With no digitized record but valid municipal receipts and an affidavit from a trustee, he approached a legal expert through Legals365.
The legal team filed for relief under the new 2025 amendment, citing the 30-year protection clause. The tribunal granted a stay on eviction and ordered verification through new digital land mapping records.
Outcome: The resident retained occupancy, and the board was directed to update the land record with digital verification.
The passing of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 is not just a legislative update—it’s a long-overdue transformation of how religious endowments are governed in India. With digitization, dedicated tribunals, and stronger enforcement, the bill addresses systemic inefficiencies and aims to restore the sanctity and social utility of waqf land.
But as with any reform, its success depends on implementation, awareness, and legal literacy. Whether you’re a stakeholder, a resident, or a waqf official, navigating the new norms will require professional support.
Let Legals365 guide you through this legal shift—with clarity, integrity, and real-time assistance.
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