The central government has been given a week by the Supreme Court of India to reply to petitions questioning the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Until the hearing that will come next, the Court has ordered no modification to be made in properties classified as ‘waqf by user,’ including properties declared or registered as waqf by official notifications.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justice PV Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Viswanathan, resumed the case. In the proceedings, the Centre gave the assurance to the Court that no appointments to the Waqf Council or Waqf Boards would be made during this time. The Court has fixed the next hearing for the week commencing from May 5, 2025, and has decided to club five petitions as lead cases for batch disposal.
The case is in opposition to the 2025 Waqf Amendment Act and its consequences with regard to waqf property, particularly government plots declared waqf by user in prior court judgments. The Court further discussed issues with regard to the composition of Waqf Council and Boards as well as handling disputed government plots as waqf properties.
The decision of this case is expected to have a substantial impact on the administration and management of waqf properties in India since it will determine the intricate balance between religious rights and property law. The legal fraternity and stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the Court’s next move, which may alter the management of waqf properties in the future.
