New Delhi : Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju introduced The Wakf Board Amendment Bill 2025 today in tthe Lok Sabha. Introducing this bill Union Minister indicated that there will be a big transformation in the coming Central Wakf Board as well as State Wakf Board structure. According to him as per this new bill Shia, Sunni, Bohara, Pashminda and Muslim women also will get representation in the Wakf Board . He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken very important initiative to restructure Wakf Board through this Wakf Board Amendment Bill 2025 .
The opposition party MPs tried to disrupt the Union Minister’s speech raising Point of Order but the Speaker of the LOk sabha Om Birla rejected this and disallowed to raise any Point of Order in discussion.
During his address Kiran Rijiju made stress that this step of his government will be proved as game changer decision by means of welfare of the Muslim community in India. He promised that under this new law the land of Wakf Board will be used for Poor Muslims as well as divorced women and helpless children .
Mentioning some provisions to restructure Wakf Board Central Union Minister for minority affairs said that now it will have two retired eminent judges, two most famous specialists, two Muslim women, and representation from Muslim community too. To constitute state Wakf Board, will be the prerogative of the concerned state governments as per the new law. The State Govt will have full authority for this purpose.
Union Minister Kiran Rijiju clarified that this bill does not relate to Mosque in anyway but will cater the interest of poor people of Muslim community. It is only related with the monitoring of property that belongs to Wakf Board .In his speech he said that under this new amendment only a person can donate land who will be practicing Muslim religion at least for 5 years.
The new bill had provision to constitution three members Tribunal for the hearing of land dispute, the Minister said. He said that under this bill some non Muslims, women members will be included in the board and power of property survey will be invested to the collector of the concerned district. It has also a provision that will allow a person or Wakf Board to appeal before the High Court against any decision made by the board or Tribunal that was not available in the old act 1995 . He said that the spectrum of activities and property management monitoring will be broadened under this new Amendment Bill.
Speaking about the bill making process Union Minister said that 284 delegations represented their views before various committees constituted for the purpose of consultation to frame this bill. Further, he said that during these consultations 25 States Wakf Boards also made there point of view before the committees. Many policy makers and experts also have expressed there views in this regard during consultations.
Addressing the lower house Union Minister pointed out that section 40 of the old act 1995 were being misused . Expressing his worry about the misuse of Wakf lands he said that these lands are being donated for Kabristan, Madrasa, Dargah, Masjid and Academic institutions but in the past years thousands of examples to misuse the land are available on record. The purpose of Wakf Board was completely Islamic but it is violated by the people who were leading Wakf Boards in every states .
He disclosed that after Government of India Wakf Board is the second largest land owner in this country that has 9 acres land. The cost of these lend is approximately Rs. 1 lakh crore. According to Management System of India a data released in the year 2022 approximately 8.72 lakhs immovable properties are inherited by Wakf Board. The third largest property owner in this country is Catholic Church.
Making stress on his points the Minister claimed that through this new Amendment Bill Modi government is in the process to restrict the misuse of Wakf Board property and insure the public interest as it is meant for .
