The North News
New Delhi, April 17
The Centre government on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that it would refrain from implementing certain provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, including the constitution of the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards, until further directions are issued. A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justices P.V. Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan recorded the statement made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the news outlet the Bar and Bench reported. The assurance was given during the hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the amended law.
“During the course of the hearing, the Solicitor General submitted that the respondents would like to file a short reply within seven days. He further assured that no appointments shall be made to the Board and Councils under the 2025 Act until the next date of hearing,” the Supreme Court said, according to the news outlet.
Mehta also informed the court that properties already notified or registered as waqf — including those recognised by usage — would retain their existing status, and no steps would be taken to de-notify them under the new provisions. The court granted the Centre seven days to file its response to the plea seeking a stay on the implementation of the Act. The petitioners have been allowed to submit a rejoinder within five days thereafter. The matter will be taken up next on May 5, with the bench clarifying that the hearing will be limited to directions and interim relief, if any.
Noting the large number of petitions — more than 70 — pending before it on the matter, the Supreme Court directed that only five petitioners’ counsel would be permitted to present oral arguments during the next hearing. The rest of the petitions, the court said, would be treated as applications in support of the main five writ petitions and disposed of accordingly.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 has faced criticism from various quarters for allegedly expanding the scope of administrative control over religious endowments and raising concerns about the protection of property rights. The government, however, maintains that the amendments are aimed at strengthening governance and transparency in waqf institutions.
