The Catholic Bishops Society seeks fair and constructive approaches to achieve the WAQF amendment

With the WAQF amendment to be introduced in parliament, the Council of Catholic Bishops of India (CBCI) is the permanent association of Catholic Bishops of India, urging political parties and lawmakers to take a fair and constructive approach.

In a statement released on Monday (31 March 2025), it said that certain provisions in the existing Central WAQF Act are inconsistent with the country’s constitution and secular democratic values.

“In Kerala, the Waqf Board has invoked these provisions to declare the ancestral residential properties of more than 600 families in the Munambam region as Waqf land. Over the past three years, this issue has escalated into a complex legal dispute. The fact remains that only a legal amendment can provide a permanent solution, and this must be recognized by the people’s representatives,” noted the association.

It added that the legal ownership of the land must be fully restored to the Munambam people. It said: “Any provision or law that contradicts the principles of the Constitution must be amended. At the same time, the rights of religious minorities guaranteed by the Constitution must be protected.”