On 4 April, the Indian parliament passed the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act, which increases government oversight over properties held by private Muslim trusts (waqfs). The amendments require Waqf boards to appoint non-Muslim members and shifts the power to adjudicate disputes from boards to civil servants. It removes a “Waqf by User” clause, which treated properties without proper documentation as waqf if they were long understood as such. The law does not affect Hindu or other religious endowments, which will not be subject to the same oversight. The government maintains that the bill is intended to improve the administration of Waqf properties. Minority groups and opposition leaders have condemned the bill as unconstitutional, arguing that it infringes on the rights of Muslims and expands government control over the privately-owned endowments. On 17 April, the Supreme Court put a hold on several of the law’s new provisions as they are being challenged at the Court.

On 4 April, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment declaring that state governors cannot indefinitely decline to sign or reject bills passed by state legislatures. The Court further clarified that even the President of India cannot “pocket-veto” a bill without time limits. The ruling arose from a prolonged dispute between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor RN Ravi, who withheld 10 bills, some pending for several years. The Court’s ruling now mandates a specific timeframe within which governors must respond to bills. Political analysts note that the verdict sets an important legal precedent across all Indian states, reinforcing constitutional principles, ensuring judicial oversight and enhancing accountability in legislative processes.

Sources: The New Indian Express, Times of India, The Week, Scroll

On 14 November, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling declaring the practice widely known as “bulldozer justice” illegal – a practice in which state governments demolish homes and businesses after communal conflicts or acts of political dissent. The Court issued guidelines and mandated that authorities provide a reason and give at least 15 days’ notice to occupants before demolishing unauthorized structures. Legal and rights experts have welcomed the decision, hoping it will stop arbitrary demolitions, which have reportedly targeted minority communities protesting discriminatory laws. The government responded favourably to the ruling, while members of the Bharatiya Janata Party clarified that bulldozers were only being used on unauthorized structures and encroachment – adding that the Court has imposed no ban on this. 

Sources: International IDEA, The New York Times, Times of India, Bharat National, Supreme Court of India 

Jammu and Kashmir held its first local election in a decade from 18 September to 1 October, following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. This abrogation removed Jammu & Kashmir’s autonomous status and split the region into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The National Conference (NC) party and its alliance partners secured 48 out of 90 assembly seats (53.3 per cent), while the nationally-ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 29 seats (32.2 per cent). Voter turnout was 63.9 per cent, slightly lower than 65.5 per cent in the last election in 2014. Despite 41 women contesting the polls, only three women secured seats in the 90-member assembly, compared to two in the previous election. The Election Commission and observers noted that the polls were held peacefully, in contrast with the 2014 election.  

Sources: International IDEA, Hindustan Times, Deutsche Welle, Election Commission of India, South Asian Voices, The Hindu 

India held its general elections from 19 April to 1 June, conducted over seven phases. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi won 240 seats, falling short of an outright majority, and needed to form a coalition government for the first time. The opposition INDIA alliance, led by the Indian National Congress party, secured 232 seats. Voter turnout was 65.8 per cent, down from 67.4 per cent in the 2019 election. Women’s political representation decreased slightly with 74 women elected (13.5 per cent) , down from 78 (14.4 per cent)  in the 2019 election. The election occurred against a backdrop of an intense heatwave that left at least 30 poll workers dead, according to media reports. Democracy experts have noted that the election was well-organized by the Election Commission in a transparent and accountable manner, despite some concerns related to an uneven playing field favouring the ruling party, opposition leaders’ imprisonment, media restrictions and alleged hate speech against Muslims during campaigning.

Sources: Election Commission of India, International IDEA, Indian Express, Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Policy Center for the New South, Reuters