Appeal for Waqf Act exemption for Meghalaya

SHILLONG, April 15: Rajabala MLA Dr Mizanur Rahman Kazi has petitioned Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, urging him to exempt Meghalaya from implementing the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
In his petition to the chief minister, the MLA stated that exempting Meghalaya would demonstrate the state’s commitment to secularism, communal harmony, and the protection of minority rights — further strengthening the bonds of trust among its people.
He argued that the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, introduces provisions such as allowing non-Muslims on Waqf Boards and transferring authority over Waqf properties to government officials. These measures, he said, are seen as encroachments on the constitutional right to manage religious affairs, as guaranteed under Article 26 of the Indian Constitution.
He further expressed concern that such changes risk undermining the autonomy of Muslim institutions in managing their charitable endowments.