Polity

The Budget Session of Parliament, which began on January 31, 2025, officially concluded on April 5, 2025, with both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die. The Monsoon Session will be scheduled later.

In his valedictory remarks for the 267th Rajya Sabha session, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar praised members for their active participation. The Upper House sat for 159 hours, achieving 119% productivity, including a historic longest sitting on April 3–4 from 11 AM to 4:02 AM. A record 49 private members’ bills were introduced.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reported 26 sittings and a 118% productivity rate. During the session, 10 government bills were introduced and 16 were passed, including the key Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which passed after midnight following an intense debate. The bill received 128 votes in favor and 95 against.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, revised based on recommendations from a Joint Parliamentary Committee, aims to modernize the 1995 Act by improving the efficiency of Waqf Boards, simplifying the registration process, and integrating technology for better management of waqf properties.

The Budget Session was split into two parts: Jan 31–Feb 13 and from March 10 onwards.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was passed by Parliament after the Rajya Sabha approved it on April 3, 2025, with 128 votes in favor and 95 against, following a 12-hour debate. The Lok Sabha had already approved the Bill.

The Bill aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties, ensure transparency and accountability, and promote heritage protection and social welfare, particularly improving the status of Muslim women, including widows and divorcees. It proposes an inclusive Waqf Board, with representation from different Muslim sects and a limited number of non-Muslim members to preserve its secular nature.

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated the Bill would benefit crores of poor Muslims without interfering with Waqf properties, aligning with the government’s “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” vision. The Bill was drafted after consultations with stakeholders and the Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain, and others, opposed the Bill, calling it anti-secular, unconstitutional, and politically motivated. However, several leaders like HD Devegowda supported the Bill, citing misuse of Waqf properties.

Parliament also passed the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, repealing the Mussalman Wakf Act of 1923.

The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 on April 2, 2025, with 288 votes in favor and 232 against. The House also approved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill 2024, repealing the Mussalman Wakf Act 1923.

Key Provisions and Government’s Stand:

• Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved the bill, stating that it focuses solely on Waqf properties and aims to make Waqf Boards more inclusive and transparent.
• The bill mandates representation from different Muslim sects and women in Waqf Boards.
• Rijiju criticized the 2013 amendments under the UPA government for allowing misuse of Waqf laws and questioned why, despite India having the highest number of Waqf properties globally, Indian Muslims remain economically disadvantaged.

Opposition’s Criticism:

• Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi called the bill unconstitutional and alleged it was an attempt to defame minorities and divide society.
• Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav accused the government of using the bill to divert attention from economic issues like unemployment and inflation.
• TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee, DMK’s A Raja, and other opposition leaders criticized the bill, calling it anti-minority and an attack on Muslim rights.

Government’s Response:

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah clarified that non-Muslims will not manage Waqf properties, dismissing fears of interference in religious practices.
• He argued that the bill aims to prevent land mismanagement and enhance transparency, blaming the Congress for past misuses of Waqf-related laws.
• BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad emphasized that the bill promotes gender justice by ensuring women’s representation in Waqf Boards.

Support from Other Parties:

• TDP’s Krishna Prasad Tenneti supported the bill, highlighting the mismanagement of Waqf properties worth ₹1.2 lakh crore.
• JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh asserted that the bill ensures justice for all sections of Muslims while curbing misuse of Waqf properties.
• Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde referred to the legislation as “UMEED” (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development), aimed at uplifting minorities.

The bill’s passage marks a significant move in reforming Waqf property management, though controversy and political opposition remain strong.