Lucknow: Hojatoleslam Seyyed Kalb Jawad Naqvi, Secretary General of the Indian Ulema Council and Friday prayer leader of Lucknow, has strongly criticized the Supreme Court’s interim verdict on the Endowment (Waqf) Amendment Act. He warned that the ruling threatens the protection of Muslim religious endowments across the country.
Addressing worshippers, Naqvi accused the government of exerting political pressure on the judiciary to push through provisions that open the door to interference and even confiscation of centuries-old waqfs. He questioned the practicality of demanding documentation for properties endowed 200 to 400 years ago, calling it an unjust requirement that endangers the continuity of these institutions.
He also raised objections to provisions that allow non-Muslims to sit on the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards. Naqvi noted that such measures would never be imposed on non-Muslim trusts and said the move undermines the independence of Islamic endowments.
“This is not only a legal matter but one that directly concerns the dignity of Islamic waqfs in India,” he said.
Naqvi urged unity among Muslims and called for a nationwide movement to demand a complete repeal of the law. He warned that partial changes would not address the fundamental issues and said the community must resist measures that weaken the management of its religious assets.
