Waqf Amendment Act 2025: State Control vs Religious Autonomy

🗓️ Date:

20 June 2025

🗞️ Source:

The Times of India
Read the news article here

📝 Summary:

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, recently passed by the government, has triggered protests in regions like Murshidabad (West Bengal) and Unakoti (Tripura). The Act allows the state government to dissolve Waqf Boards, appoint administrators, and enforce stricter audits and land regulation. Protesters argue this move threatens the autonomy of religious communities under Article 26 of the Constitution.

Due to unrest, the Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of BSF forces to manage the law and order situation.

⚖️ Key Legal & Governance Implications:

• Waqf Amendment 2025 gives the government powers to:
  • Dissolve existing Waqf boards
  • Appoint administrators
  • Enforce audits and land records updates
• Seen as a conflict between State oversight and community rights.

🎯 UPSC Relevance:

• GS Paper II:
  • Article 26 – Freedom to manage religious affairs
  • Government role in religious endowments
  • Judicial control and secularism
• GS Paper IV / Ethics:
  • Balancing public order with constitutional freedoms
  • State power vs minority trust

🧠 Practice Question:

Critically examine the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 in the context of secularism and the constitutional rights of religious minorities.