LI Network
New Delhi, April 6, 2025
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 officially became law on Saturday following the assent of President Droupadi Murmu. The President also gave her approval to the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, thereby formally enacting both contentious bills that have triggered heated political and legal discourse across the country.
“The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the president on April 5, 2025, and is hereby published for general information: The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025,” the government stated in its official notification.
The laws were passed earlier this week after marathon sessions in both Houses of Parliament, with proceedings stretching past midnight amid fiery debates. The Lok Sabha passed the bills early Thursday morning, followed by the Rajya Sabha, which cleared them on Friday after a 17-hour sitting. The sessions were marked by sharp exchanges between the Treasury and Opposition benches.
Soon after the passage of the bills, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the move as a “watershed moment” in the country’s journey toward socio-economic justice, transparency, and inclusive growth.
“The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency, and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on the margins, thus being denied both voice and opportunity,” PM Modi said in a post on social media platform X.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the Bills in Parliament, asserted that the amendments do not infringe upon the rights of any community and are aimed at reforming outdated structures and ensuring better governance. He dismissed allegations that the Bills were anti-minority, calling them necessary for “long-overdue reform.”