New Delhi:
The Supreme Court on Monday said that the arguments challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act will be taken by a bench on May 15 under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of India’s Chief Justice Bra Gawai.
As soon as Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Vishwanathan have gathered for hearing, the CJI said, “There are some aspects that you (center) deal with, but this clarification is required. I do not want to reserve any decision or order on this interim platform.
CJI Khanna performed the office on 13 May and will be successful by CJI-Designate Justice Gawai a day after its supernation.
The CJI said, “We have not gone very deeply to the counter affidavit (center). Yes, you have raised some points regarding registration (of Waqf properties) and have given some disputed figures that will require some ideas,” the CJI said.
Indicating CJI’s retirement, “We love to push your Lordship (CJI), but we cannot embarrass you.
“This is painful to remind you of your Lordship (about retirement),” the law official said.
“No, no, I look forward to it,” CJI replied.
Earlier, the Center on 17 April assured the apex court that it would neither represent Waqf properties, including “users by Waqf”, nor would any appointments be made in the Central Waqf Council and Boards by May 5.
The Center informed the bench and assured that the law was passed by the Parliament with a “fixed discussion”, the government should not listen to.
The batch of five petitions has now been titled ‘Ri the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025’ and has been filed by AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owissi.
In its affidavit on 25 April, the Center defended the amended Act and opposed any “blankets” by the court on the “law that estimates the constitutionality passed by the Parliament”.
Halfing a provision on the “Waqf” properties by the user, it was stated that any intervention would create “legislative rule” by “judicial order.
WAQF refers to an exercise by the user where a property is recognized as a religious or charitable settlement (WAQF), which is based on its long -term, uninterrupted use for such purposes, even if there is no formal and written declaration of WAQF by the owner.
The Center informed the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 last month, when it received the consent of President Drupadi Murmu on 5 April. The bill was approved by the Lok Sabha with the support of 288 members, while 232 MPs were against it. The Rajya Sabha saw 128 members voting in its favor and 95 voted against it.
Many political parties, such as DMK, YSRCP, AIMIM, leftist parties, civil society groups such as non -governmental organizations, Muslim bodies and others have shifted the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the Act.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)
