UP: Notice against 24 for protest against Waqf Bill wearing black badges

Authorities in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district have issued notices against 24 people for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 by wearing black badges and asked them to furnish bonds of Rs 2 lakh each.

Superintendent of police (city) Satyanarayan Prajapat on Saturday told reporters that notices were served to 24 persons in this connection, and added that police have identified more people on the basis of CCTV footage.

The notices were issued by city magistrate Vikas Kashyap based on the police report, asking the recipients to furnish bonds of Rs 2 lakh each after appearing before the court on 16 April.

These people were found protesting against the and wearing black badges on their arms during Ramzan prayers in different mosques in Muzaffarnagar last Friday, 28 March.

The people who had notices issued against them said they wore black badges only to show their protest in a democratic way.

Minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, 3 April, asserting that the legislation was "not against Muslims or intended to hurt their religious feelings", but sought to of waqf properties, address complexities, ensure transparency and introduce technology-driven management.

The Lok Sabha passed the Bill by a 288-232 vote in the early hours of Thursday, after nearly 12 hours of debate, and the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the legislation following an over 13-hour debate. The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 against.