DAMMS Slams WAQF (Amendment) Act 2025, Calls It Unconstitutional and Demands Immediate Repeal
New Delhi, April 8, 2025 — The Delhi Association of Manipur Muslim Students (DAMMS) has issued a strong statement condemning the recently passed WAQF (Amendment) Act 2025, now renamed the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Act. The group has called the law a direct assault on the constitutional rights of Muslims in India, urging the government for its immediate repeal and demanding a transparent dialogue with Muslim stakeholders and civil society.
The DAMMS memorandum, released on Monday, paints the Act as part of a broader ideological shift initiated by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since its ascent to power in 2014. The statement highlights systemic marginalization of religious and linguistic minorities, particularly Muslims, citing administrative actions such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), criminalization of Triple Talaq, abrogation of Article 370, and the demolition of Muslim properties as part of a consistent pattern.
Key Concerns with the UMEED Act 2025
The memorandum asserts that the new law strips Waqf Boards of their autonomy, transferring key decision-making powers to state authorities, especially district collectors. The Act includes provisions that reportedly allow the conversion of Waqf properties—estimated to include 8.8 lakh assets such as mosques and graveyards—into non-Waqf assets through state intervention. DAMMS fears that this will lead to widespread encroachment and exploitation of these religious endowments.
Further, DAMMS criticized the inclusion of two non-Muslim members in Waqf councils, calling it a direct violation of Article 26 of the Constitution, which guarantees religious denominations the right to manage their own affairs.
Polarizing Effect and Allegations of Targeted Discrimination
DAMMS expressed deep concerns about the broader political implications of the law, accusing the government of promoting a Hindutva-centric agenda aimed at excluding Muslims from public and political life. The statement also references concepts like “Ethnic Democracy” and “bare life,” suggesting that the current regime is fostering a system of majoritarianism and two-tiered citizenship.
The abolition of Section 40—previously viewed as a safeguard for Waqf autonomy—further fuels suspicions about state overreach. DAMMS argues that such moves not only marginalize Muslims but threaten the pluralistic foundation of India.
Call for Unified Resistance
DAMMS has appealed to constitutional experts, human rights organizations, and the public to oppose the legislation. The group reiterated that the strength of Indian democracy lies in its diversity and inclusivity, emphasizing that the Waqf (Amendment) Act represents a dangerous precedent if allowed to stand.
“The Act is not merely a legal amendment—it is a test of our constitutional morality,” the memorandum concludes.