Legal Battle Over Waqf Act Reaches Supreme Court For Urgent Listing

On Monday, senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna a set of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

Sibal requested urgent listing, citing the significance of the matter and its wide constitutional implications.

CJI Khanna asked whether the counsel had sent the required email along with the mentioning letter.

After receiving confirmation, he assured that he would retrieve the letter and take the necessary action that afternoon.

Wave Of Petitions After Waqf Bill Passed

The pleas were filed in the Supreme Court shortly after Parliament passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, on Friday.

The passage of the bill sparked political and legal reactions, with several opposition leaders and parties announcing their intent to challenge it in court.

Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, the party’s whip in the Lok Sabha, filed one of the key petitions, arguing that the amendments violate multiple provisions of the Constitution, including Articles 14 (equality before law), 25 and 26 (religious freedoms), 29 (minority rights), and 300A (right to property).

Congress & AIMIM Lead Legal Pushback

The Indian National Congress has strongly opposed the legislation, describing it as a ‘direct attack on the basic structure of the Constitution’ and accusing the government of attempting to ‘divide’ the nation on religious lines.

Joining the legal challenge, AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi also moved the Supreme Court.

His petition claims the amendments are ‘manifestly arbitrary’ and breach a wide range of constitutional protections, including Articles 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, and 300A.

Government Defends Amendments

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the legislation, asserting that the new law does not interfere with Waqf properties and aims to benefit millions of poor Muslims.

He emphasized that the Modi government upholds the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ (Together with All, Development for All).

The concept of Waqf, rooted in Islamic tradition, involves endowments made for religious or charitable purposes.

Critics of the amendment fear that the changes could weaken existing protections for such properties and religious practices.

As the Chief Justice reviews the urgent listing request, the nation’s top court may soon take up what could become a landmark constitutional case, testing the limits of state power, minority rights, and religious freedoms.

Also Read: Supreme Court To Hear Muslim Side’s Plea In Mathura Dispute On April 8