New Delhi – The Supreme Court on Thursday scheduled May 20 for hearing interim relief pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the newly enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, reported the Varta Bharati.
A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai, along with Justice Augustine George Masih, directed both parties – senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioners, and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre – to submit written notes by Monday.
“We will only be considering interim relief on Tuesday,” said the CJI, deferring further hearings. The court noted that both sides required additional time to study the pleadings.
The Solicitor General reiterated the Centre’s assurance that no Waqf properties, including those established through usage, would be denotified. Additionally, he confirmed that no appointments to the Central Waqf Council or State Waqf Boards would be made under the amended legislation during the interim period.
The bench also clarified it would not entertain requests for a stay on provisions of the original 1995 Waqf Act during the May 20 session.
This matter had earlier been under the purview of a bench led by former CJI Sanjiv Khanna, who retired on May 13. It has since been transferred to the current bench headed by Justice Gavai.
On April 25, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs submitted a 1,332-page preliminary affidavit defending the 2025 amendment and opposing any blanket stay, asserting the law carries the presumption of constitutionality since it was passed by Parliament and received Presidential assent on April 5.
The Centre also criticized what it called a “mischievous false narrative” surrounding specific provisions of the amended Waqf Act, urging the court to dismiss the petitions.
