New Delhi, April 4, 2025 — Hours after Parliament passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Congress MP Mohammad Jawed and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi moved the Supreme Court, calling it unconstitutional. They argued that the law undermines religious autonomy and discriminates against the Muslim community.
The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill early Friday with 128 votes in favor and 95 against, following its approval in the Lok Sabha with a 288-232 margin. The Bill now awaits President Droupadi Murmu’s assent to become law. It mandates that only self-owned properties can be declared as Waqf after verifying ownership and ensuring inheritance rights for women and children. The district collector will determine ownership before a Muslim donor can designate land as Waqf.
Jawed, a Congress MP from Kishanganj, Bihar, called the law an “arbitrary restriction” on Waqf management, violating constitutional provisions. He argued that it unfairly imposes restrictions not seen in other religious endowments. Owaisi contended that the Bill strips Waqfs of protections while retaining them for Hindu, Jain, and Sikh religious trusts, violating Articles 14 and 15, which prohibit discrimination based on religion.
Protests erupted in Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Manipur’s Imphal Valley, where demonstrators gathered under the Santhel United Development Committee. In Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia students called the law communal and unconstitutional. The Congress and DMK have vowed to challenge the Bill, with more opposition parties expected to follow.
Jawed’s petition also challenged the removal of “Waqf-by-user,” a concept recognized in the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict, allowing properties to attain Waqf status through historical religious use. He argued that this omission limits the Waqf Tribunal’s powers and violates Article 26, which grants religious groups the right to manage their affairs.
Owaisi opposed appointing non-Muslims to Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council, calling it state interference in religious governance. He pointed out that Hindu religious trusts are exclusively managed by Hindus. He warned that the amendments “irreversibly dilute” Waqf protections and push back progress by decades.
With legal and political battles ahead, the fate of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill remains uncertain as it faces its biggest challenge yet in the Supreme Court.
