New Delhi – The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has drafted the implementation rules for the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, and submitted them to the Law Ministry for final approval. Officials said the rules could be notified within 15 to 20 days, ahead of the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament beginning July 21, reported the Hindustan Times.
The amendments, passed in April 2025, aim to overhaul the regulation of Islamic charitable endowments. They have sparked widespread opposition and are currently being challenged in the Supreme Court. However, the government is moving forward with preparations to enforce the Act.
A senior ministry official said the rules were prepared in “record time” and have now been sent to the Law Ministry and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for final vetting. “Once approved, they will be published in the official gazette,” the official said.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, also confirmed that the draft is in its final review stage.
The law introduces significant changes—scrapping the ‘waqf by user’ provision, allowing non-Muslims and women to be members of waqf boards, and giving senior officials the power to declare government land as waqf. It also requires that only practising Muslims of at least five years may make waqf donations and ensures rightful heirs, including women, are not denied inheritance due to waqf creation.
The upcoming rules are critical as they will clarify procedures related to waqf property registration, centralised management through the new UMEED (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development) portal, and selection norms for waqf council members.
Officials stated that 15-20 stakeholder consultations were held across states and ministries. Every change in the draft was reportedly shared with states for review.
The rules also aim to align with recommendations from a joint parliamentary committee that reviewed the earlier version of the bill. Additionally, a committee of retired law officials has been formed to draft model rules for states to adapt locally.
Capacity building is already underway. The ministry has directed all state chief secretaries to begin training district-level officers, who will further train local waqf managers (mutawallis) and implementing authorities.
As per parliamentary procedure, the finalised rules will be laid before both Houses of Parliament within 30 days of notification, where they may be modified or annulled. However, former Lok Sabha Secretary General P.D.T. Achary clarified that rules do not need prior notification to Parliament to be valid—they become effective once published in the Gazette.
Despite ongoing legal challenges, the ministry appears confident in moving forward. “Even if the Supreme Court issues directions, necessary changes can be incorporated in the rules,” said an official.
