Supreme Court to Hear Waqf Law Case Today

Supreme Court will hear petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf Amendment Act today. The country's top court will decide today whether an interim order is needed on Waqf petitions. The petitions to be heard today also include a petition filed by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi. The petitions state that the provisions of this law interfere with the traditional and historical connection of Waqf with Islam. Also, it is a violation of Article 26, which guarantees freedom in religious matters.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjeev Khanna will hear the case finally. CJI Sanjeev Khanna is going to retire on May 13, so he has less time.

Earlier, while hearing these petitions on April 17, the Supreme Court had banned denotification of Waqf properties and new appointments in boards including the Central Waqf Council. The Supreme Court had sought a reply from the government on these petitions and also gave time to the petitioner to file a rejoinder on this reply.

In the affidavit filed by the Central Government regarding the Waqf Amendment Act, Waqf by User has been described as correct. In a 1332-page affidavit given by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to the Supreme Court, citing the provisions of the old Waqf Act, it has been said that registration of Waqf properties including 'Waqf by User' has been mandatory since the year 1923. The government said that the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 leaves matters of faith and worship untouched and respects the religious practices of Muslims. The affidavit filed by the government also claimed that after the 2013 amendment in this law, there has been an increase of 20 lakh acres in Waqf land. Waqf provisions were also alleged to be misused to occupy private and government properties. The Center urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the petitions filed against the Waqf (Amendment) Act and called it really shocking that after the 2013 amendment, there has been an increase of 116 percent in the Auqaf area.

Opponents of Waqf law are spreading lies - Government
The government says that the opponents of the Waqf law are spreading lies. The government has described this Act as a secular law. The central government has accused the petitioners of creating a false story that this law interferes in religious matters. The government says that the mandatory registration of every waqf, including 'waqf by user', is a provision more than a century old. 'Waqf by user' means that if a land is being used as Waqf for a long time, then it can be registered as Waqf.

The government is misleading - Muslim Personal Law Board

In the case, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has opposed the Center's claim that there has been a 'shocking increase' in Waqf properties after 2013. The AIMPLB told the Supreme Court that the government is 'misleading' the court and 'presenting a picture that does not exist'. The board said that all the properties registered as Waqf before 2013 were not immediately uploaded on the Center's Waqf Management System of India (WAMSI) portal when it was started. The WAMSI portal has been created to keep a record of Waqf properties.