The petitions challenging the Waqf Amendment Act were heard in the Supreme Court on Thursday. During the hearing, the government assured the court that no non-Muslim would be appointed in the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Board.
The government also said that no action would be taken on the existing Waqf properties. The Supreme Court has not yet given any stay order in this matter.
Next hearing on May 5
The government has been asked to give its reply within seven days in this entire matter. The next hearing in this case will now be held on May 5.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is pleading on behalf of the central government, assured the court that some provisions of the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 will not be implemented for the time being.
Chief Justice Khanna said, "During the hearing, the Solicitor General said that the government wants to give its reply within seven days. He also assured that no new appointments will be made in the Waqf Council or Board. Till further orders, no changes will be made in the Waqf, including Waqf by User, which are already registered under Waqf. Nor will the concerned collector make any changes in them. We take this statement on record."
The Supreme Court had indicated on Wednesday that it could issue a stay on some provisions of this law.
On Wednesday, a bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna had made several comments on this matter.
In the hearing on Wednesday, the Supreme Court had asked the Central Government whether it was considering giving a place to a Muslim or a non-Hindu in the religious trust of the Hindu community.
The petitions challenging the Waqf Amendment Act were heard in the Supreme Court on Wednesday for the first day. In this hearing, senior lawyers like Kapil Sibal, Rajiv Dhawan and Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared on behalf of the petitioners.
During this hearing, the lawyers argued that many amendments in the Waqf Amendment Act affect the fundamental rights to manage religious affairs.
Prakash Kumar Pandey