Waqf Amendment Bill / Legal battle on Waqf Act, hearing to be held in SC, more than 70 petitions in opposition

The Wakf (Amendment) Act, which was passed amid opposition, is under challenge in the Supreme Court. Today, the bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna will begin the hearing. So far, 73 petitions have been filed. The central government has filed a caveat and demanded to present its side.

Waqf Amendment Bill: The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which has been passed by Parliament amid opposition from opposition parties and has become a law, is now on the test of the country's biggest court. Hearing on the petitions challenging this Act is starting in the Supreme Court from today. A special bench of three judges headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna is hearing this sensitive matter.

73 petitions, many famous petitioners

So far about 73 petitions have been filed against the Waqf Act. Prominent names among them include AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMPLB, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, DMK, Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammad Javed. Also, Arshad Madani of the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights has also filed a petition.

The Supreme Court has so far listed 10 of these petitions, while other petitions are also pending. The court has indicated that soon a date will be fixed for hearing all the petitions together.

Center's caveat and constitutional questions

The central government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court before the hearing on these petitions, requesting that the government's arguments be heard before passing any interim order. This stand of the Center shows that the government is fully alert and prepared about the validity of this Act.

The petition filed by Owaisi states that this Act violates the religious and social rights of Muslims. According to him, this law is a clear violation of Article 14 (right to equality) and Article 15 (prohibition of discrimination on the basis of religion) of the Constitution.

Nationwide protest against Waqf law

Muslim organizations across the country have started protests and campaigns regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has started the "Waqf Bachao Abhiyan" from April 11, which will run for a total of 87 days i.e. till July 7. The target in the first phase of this campaign is to collect one crore signatures, so that this public pressure can be conveyed to the government and the judiciary.

History of Waqf Act and outline of amendment

The legal framework for the supervision of Waqf properties in India was prepared in the 1950s.

In 1954, the Central Government enacted the Waqf Act and established the Central Waqf Council.

In 1955, Waqf Boards were formed in the states, which today number about 32.

Some states have separate boards for Shia and Sunni communities.

The Waqf Amendment Act notified in 2025 brings changes to these existing arrangements. Some new provisions have been included in it, which have raised controversy.

Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024: Timeline at a glance

8 August 2024: Waqf (Amendment) Bill introduced in Lok Sabha
8 August 2024: Referred to Joint Parliamentary Committee
30 January 2025: Committee submits report
2 April 2025: Passed by Lok Sabha
3 April 2025: Passed by Rajya Sabha
Recently: Law notified

Agni Pariksha of Judicial Review

Now this matter has entered the phase of constitutional review of the Supreme Court. On the one hand, the government is calling it a reform done in the interest of the society, while the opposition is calling it a blow to religious freedom. It remains to be seen in the coming weeks whether the judiciary considers this Act constitutional or finds any flaw in it.

This hearing will affect not only the Muslim community, but also the interpretation of the country's minority policies and constitutional values.