(SIMPLIFIED) WAQF Amendment Bill: Suppressing Minority Rights or Upholding Secularism?
Written by: Yash Swar & Harsh Thakur 10 Minutes Read The Waqf Amendment Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 8th August 2024 by Union Minister for Minority Affairs Hon MP Kiren Rijiju. The bill aims to amend the Waqf Act 1995, the Act which regulates Waqf properties in India. “Waqf” as per the Act is defined as an endowment of movable or immovable property for purposes considered pious, religious, or charitable under the Muslim law. Herein under the Act, every state is mandated to constitute a Waqf Board to manage these waqfs. This new legislation, however, has drawn both criticism and praise. Supporters argue that it brings much-needed transparency and accountability to the administration of Waqf properties, while critics claim that it infringes upon the autonomy of a religious institution and undermines minority rights. At the heart of this debate lies the tension between secularism and religious autonomy, two principles enshrined in India’s Constitution. In this piece, we s
