Waqf Law 2025: Waqf Amendment Act comes into force from today, hearing in Supreme Court next week

The central government has officially implemented the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. With this, important changes in the laws related to Waqf in the country have formally come into force. The Center has issued an official notification to bring the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 into effect from 8 April 2025. This notification has been published in The Gazette of India.

Digital Desk, New Delhi.  The Waqf Amendment Act has come into force in the country from today (April 8). The central government has issued a notification regarding this. In which it was told that the Waqf Amendment Act has been made effective in the country from April 8. The Waqf Amendment Bill was approved by both the houses of Parliament and the President last week. After which this new law will come into force from today.

 

Government issued notification

This notification has been published in The Gazette of India. According to the notification issued by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Central Government, using the powers conferred by the Constitution under subsection (2) of Section 1 of the Act, has declared 8 April 2025 as the date from which all the provisions of the Wakf (Amendment) Act, 2025 will come into force.

 

 

Law challenged in Supreme Court

 

After getting the approval of the President, the Waqf Amendment Bill has become a law (Waqf Law 2025). However, as soon as it was passed by both the houses of Parliament, it has been challenged in the Supreme Court (Supreme Court On Waqf Bill). So far, many petitions have been filed in which it has been challenged as against the Constitution and a violation of the fundamental right to religious freedom.

 

 

What argument has the petitioner given in the court?

The petitioners in the court against the law have argued that Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution guarantee religious freedom and the freedom to manage religious affairs to all, while this new law interferes with this freedom of Muslims and increases government interference. The petitions have also opposed the inclusion of non-Muslims as members of the Waqf Board.

 

The government filed a caveat in the court

The Supreme Court is likely to hear the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Wakf (Amendment) Act, 2025 on April 15. The central government on Tuesday filed a caveat in the apex court so that no order can be passed without hearing its arguments.

 

The President gave his approval on 5 April

According to the notification of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 passed by the Parliament has come into effect from Tuesday i.e. April 8. President Draupadi Murmu gave her assent to the bill on April 5.

 

More than 10 petitions have been filed, many big leaders are also petitioners

More than 10 petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court regarding the new law. The petitioners include names like All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, DMK, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammad Javed, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, RJD MP Manoj Jha and Faiz Ahmed.

 

The Act was termed as an attack on minority rights

The AIMPLB petition states that the Act not only deprives the Muslim minority of the administration of their religious trusts and properties but also violates their right to religious freedom under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India.

 

DMK and other parties expressed strong objection

In its petition to the court, the DMK has said that the rights of 50 lakh Muslims in Tamil Nadu and 20 crore Muslims across the country have been violated. Owaisi's petition states that the protection given to religious trusts of other religions is being taken away from Waqf trusts-which is against Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution.

 

Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind: This is a direct attack on the Constitution

Calling it a “direct attack on the religious freedom of Muslims”, Jamiat has asked the Supreme Court to strike down the Act.

 

What do legal experts say?

Legal experts believe that this matter is related to religious freedom and constitutional rights of minority communities, hence this hearing can prove to be important.