President Draupadi Murmu approved the Wakf (Amendment) Bill late Saturday evening. The government issued a gazette notification regarding the new law. Now the central government will issue a separate notification regarding the date of implementation of the new law.
The bill (now law) was passed after 12 hours of discussion in the Lok Sabha on 2 April and in the Rajya Sabha on 3 April. Congress MP Mohammad Javed, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi and AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan have challenged the new law in separate petitions in the Supreme Court.
It has been said in these petitions that the Waqf Amendment Act discriminates against the Muslim community. This Act also violates the fundamental rights of Muslims. On this, Union Minister Rijiju said that the purpose of this law is to prevent discrimination, misuse and encroachment in Waqf properties. This bill (now law) was supported by 128 members in the Rajya Sabha, while 95 opposed it.
It was passed in the Lok Sabha late night on April 2. During this, 288 MPs voted in support and 232 voted against it.