Rijiju made it clear that the Waqf Amendment Act is not harmful to the Muslim community, and is instead intended to correct irregularities and ensure proper management of Waqf properties.
New Delhi, April 16 – Union Minister for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, has strongly responded to the allegations surrounding the Waqf Amendment Act, dismissing claims that the central government intends to “snatch” away properties under Waqf boards.
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In an exclusive interview with ANI, Rijiju said that the government is working according to the Constitution and the rule of law, and no property will be taken from anyone unjustly.
“Muslims are also Indians. Shouldn’t we think about the Muslim community? How can we leave aside one community and let all the irregularities keep on happening unchecked?… We are the government of India. We have the responsibility to ensure that every citizen is taken care of and every community is looked after. The people who are spreading this false news, unverified claims that the mosques, the dargahs, and the kabaristan are going to be snatched away by the government. This country rules through law. The Constitution governs us. How can anybody snatch somebody’s property like that?”
Rijiju made it clear that the Waqf Amendment Act is not harmful to the Muslim community, and is instead intended to correct irregularities and ensure proper management of Waqf properties.
“False news and unverified claims” are being spread, he said, and emphasized that the provisions in the Act don’t “harm” the Muslim community.
Rijiju also clarified the division of powers between the central and state governments when it comes to Waqf property disputes.
“If there are some kind of issues which are not settled, then the state government will decide. So, the power is not with the central government. The central government is just forming a central Waqf council, which the minister heads. In this case, me. So all this, whether it is to be claimed, reclaimed, or counterclaimed by the state government, will be decided by the state government. The DM is under the state government,” he added.
Responding to concerns from the northeastern states and tribal communities, Rijiju said that the amendment was made with respect to tribal sensitivities and the constitutional protection of their lands.
“The creation of Waqf cannot be done on tribal land, which is any land that falls in the sixth and fifth schedule of the constitution. So it will not have an impact on the tribal areas. The fifth area is in other parts of the country, and the sixth schedule is in the northeast. The fifth schedule is for areas in other parts of the country, and the sixth schedule is for the northeast. Assam and Manipur will have an impact, but a positive one,” Rijiju said.
He stressed that the Amendment Act will not apply to lands in tribal areas, including those in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim, due to the constitutional protections granted to these regions.
“Now, some people have challenged that provision also. So the tribal… will be raising their voice, and I believe that some of them will be appealing in the Supreme Court that any protection given to the tribal should not be challenged. Tribal lands and tribal rights are protected by the constitutional provisions. So it’s not that we have just inserted at our whims and fancies. We have aligned with the constitutional provisions,” he added.
The Union Minister also brought attention to certain cases of misuse, where tribal lands were reportedly being converted into Waqf property after conversions. He said the amendment aims to stop such incidents.
“This is a very emotional issue for the Tribals. You very well know the Tribals are so much attached to Jal, Jungle, and Zameen. There are instances which have come before us of Muslim men marrying tribal women and then getting converted, and then finally creating that particular land owned by the lady as Waqf property. Once a Waqf property is dedicated, it can’t be reversed. If the lands in tribal areas are declared as Waqf property, their status will change forever. This is why we had deliberately put this amendment in the parliament,” Rijiju said.
Today’s Supreme Court Hearing
The Supreme Court of India today continued hearing several petitions that are challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, and the court has decided to carry on with the hearing tomorrow as well at 2 PM.
The case is being heard by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Vishwanathan. During the proceedings, the Bench expressed concern about ongoing unrest.
The Supreme Court requested the government’s response to over 70 petitions contesting the Act but has declined to issue a stay on the law’s operation, stating that it will continue hearings on Thursday.
The bench stated,
“The properties declared by courts as waqfs should not be de-notified as waqfs, whether they are waqf by user or waqf by deed, while the court is hearing the challenge to the Waqf Amendment Act 2025,”
The practice of ‘waqf by user’ essentially designates property as waqf if it has been utilized for Islamic religious purposes over a long period, even without formal documentation.
Regarding the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Central and state Waqf boards, the apex court asked the Centre, “whether it is willing to allow Muslims to be part of the Hindu religious trust.”
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan, outlined two key points for discussion.
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna said,
“There are two aspects we want to ask both sides to address. Firstly, whether we should entertain or relegate it to the high court? Secondly, point out in brief what you are really urging and wanting to argue,”
BACKGROUND
The Central Government had officially announced that the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 14 of 2025) would become active from April 8, 2025. This was done through a notification issued by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, which clearly stated:
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 (14 of 2025), the Central Government hereby appoints the 8th day of April, 2025 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.”
This step came after the Lok Sabha passed the Bill on April 3, 2025, after a long debate lasting more than 12 hours. The voting result was declared at 1:55 AM, with 288 Members of Parliament voting in favour and 232 voting against the Bill. The Bill was later passed in the Rajya Sabha as well and got President Droupadi Murmu’s approval, making it law.
