TCN News Desk
New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has sought an urgent appointment with President Droupadi Murmu to voice concerns over the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The board hopes to discuss the bill’s potential ramifications before it receives presidential assent.
AIMPLB spokesperson S.Q.R. Ilyas, in a statement released on April 4, detailed the contents of the formal letter addressed to the President by the board’s General Secretary Maulana Fazlur Rahim Mujaddadi. The letter outlines the board’s apprehensions about how the proposed amendments might alter the administration and autonomy of Waqf institutions, which have historically played a vital role in the religious and charitable affairs of the Muslim community.
“The amendment introduced by the Act includes significant changes that impact the administration and autonomy of the Waqf institutions, which have historically played a crucial role in the religious and charitable activities of the Muslim community,” Ilyas stated. He emphasised the board’s concerns about the bill’s wider implications.
AIMPLB has warned that the bill’s provisions could have serious negative consequences for Muslims across India. The letter strongly criticises the proposed legislation and calls it “thoroughly unconstitutional” and an “attack on the Muslims of the country”.
Board’s General Secretary Mujaddadi asserted that the amendments contradict fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution, particularly those concerning religious freedom, equality and the safeguarding of religious institutions.
“We believe that the provisions of the Act require serious reconsideration as they are inconsistent with the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India,” he said.
Given the gravity of the issue, the board has urged the President to grant an early meeting to discuss their concerns and explore possible resolutions that align with constitutional principles.
The letter concluded with a direct appeal, “Given the gravity of the matter, we humbly request your Excellency to kindly grant us an early appointment convenient to your Excellency so that we may present our concerns and discuss possible resolutions within the Constitutional framework.”
With tensions rising over the bill’s implications, the AIMPLB’s request for a presidential meeting underscores the broader debate on religious rights, governance of Waqf properties and constitutional protections for minority institutions.