New Delhi, April 10: The Supreme Court is set to hear on April 16 a batch of 10 petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which came into effect on April 8. The matter is listed before a Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar, and Justice KV Viswanathan.
According to the cause list published on the court’s website, the petitions—grouped under item No. 13—include those filed by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, and DMK leader A. Raja. Other petitioners include RJD MP Manoj Jha, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, Congress MLA Aftab Ahmad, and organisations such as the Association for Protection of Civil Rights and Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama.
The petitioners have asked the court to declare the amendment unconstitutional and stay its operation. Madani argued that the law poses an immediate threat to religious freedoms, saying it is “a direct attack on the Constitution, which not only provides equal rights to all citizens but also grants them complete religious freedom.” Jamiat termed the amendment “a dangerous conspiracy to strip Muslims of their religious freedom.”
Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, the first to move the court, claimed the law places “arbitrary restrictions” on the management of Waqf properties and erodes the Muslim community’s religious autonomy. Owaisi also raised concerns over the withdrawal of protections for Waqf properties, contending that the amendment “discriminates against Muslims while affecting Hindu, Jain, and Sikh religious and charitable endowments as well.”
To prevent any ex-parte stay on the law, the Centre has filed a caveat with the court. A caveat ensures that no order is passed without first hearing the government’s side.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed by the Lok Sabha on April 3 with 288 votes in support and 232 against. The Rajya Sabha cleared it during the early hours of April 4 by 128 votes to 95. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on April 5, and the law was notified on April 8.
The amended law introduces significant changes: only self-owned resources can now be declared as Waqf, with district collectors required to verify ownership, especially to safeguard the inheritance rights of women and children. It also authorizes state governments to nominate Waqf board members, including individuals from backward classes and both Sunni and Shia communities.
DMK MP A. Raja, who served on the Joint Parliamentary Committee that examined the Bill, also moved the top court. He and others contend that the amendment undermines long-standing religious protections and alters the autonomy of Waqf institutions without adequate safeguards.
The Supreme Court’s decision to list the matter promptly reflects the political and constitutional weight of the issue, with multiple parties and civil rights groups converging in opposition to the newly enacted law.
