The Supreme Court on Thursday granted the Centre a week’s time to file a response to the petitions challenging constitutional validity of Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
The Supreme Court resumed hearing the rest of the total 72 petitions listed against the constitutionality of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 after a significant first day where the bench consisting of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan proposed hard questions for the Centre.
The Supreme Court noted assurance of the Centre that till next date of hearing, wakf, including ‘waqf by user’, which is declared by notification or registered, will neither be denotified nor its character changed.
CJI Sanjiv Khanna Stated, “no appointment of board or council can take place. And if registration has taken place under the 1995 Act, then those properties cannot be disturbed. We are saying the executive decides and the judiciary adjudicates.”
SG asked, “if any state makes any appointment till the court decides the case it will be treated as void”
CJI added, “states are also involved here.”
SG further said, “Appointment of the board is in my hands it will not happen.”
Further, the Centre gave a statement that no appointments will be made to the Waqf Council or Waqf boards.
A three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan resume hearing the case at 2pm on Thursday.
The top court fixed the next date of hearing in the week commencing May 5 by when the responses of Centre, states and petitioners opposing the Act will be filed. The court directed five petitions to be selected as lead petitions that will be decided by the petitioners.
The Supreme Court segregated the cases filed by Hindu parties challenging the earlier Waqf laws of 1995 and 2013. It also directed that all the five petitions challenging the 2025 Act will be listed under a common heading “In Re: Waqf Amendment Act 2025”.
