Hyderabad MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the recently passed Waqf Amendment Bill 2025.
The bill, which received approval from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, now awaits the President’s assent to become law.
AIMPLB Announces Nationwide Protests
Opposition to the bill is intensifying, with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) also planning to launch nationwide protests against the legislation. In a post on X, the AIMPLB stated, “The government’s approach to the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 is deeply disappointing. The AIMPLB will soon organize nationwide protests and legal actions against this bill.”
Moreover, Congress Lok Sabha MP Mohammed Jawed and party General Secretary Jairam Ramesh announced that the party would challenge the constitutionality of the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Supreme Court.
Ramesh highlighted that the Congress is already engaged in multiple legal proceedings, including:
Challenge to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019
Opposition to amendments in the Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005
Legal battles over changes to the Conduct of Election Rules (2024)
Intervention to uphold the Places of Worship Act, 1991
In a post on X, Ramesh said, “The Congress’s challenges against the CAA, 2019, RTI amendments, and Conduct of Election Rules are currently before the Supreme Court. We will soon challenge the constitutional validity of the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024.”
Key Highlights Of Bill 2025
The bill was passed after intense debates in both Houses of Parliament. The Lok Sabha approved it late Wednesday night with 288 votes in favor and 232 against, while the Rajya Sabha passed it early Friday morning with 128 ayes and 95 noes.
The amendment seeks to update the Waqf Act of 1995, with objectives to:
Enhance the administrative efficiency of Waqf boards
Streamline the process of registering Waqf properties
Introduce technology-driven management for better record-keeping
The government introduced the revised bill after incorporating recommendations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which reviewed the original version introduced in August 2024.
Political & Legal Tensions
The passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill has sparked political debates, with critics arguing that it may affect the rights and management of Waqf properties. The legal challenges and planned protests underscore the growing opposition from various political and civil society groups.
As the bill awaits the President’s assent, the Supreme Court’s upcoming hearings are expected to play a critical role in determining its fate.
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