New Delhi [India]: On Monday, concerns were raised over the secular nature of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, with critics arguing that the legislation disproportionately affects a single religion, undermining India’s secular ethos.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah highlighted the importance of religious equality and stated that the matter is now in the hands of the judiciary. He confirmed that the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Act.
“My party has already filed a petition in front of the Supreme Court. Now leave it to the judges. We are among a number of organisations that have approached the Supreme Court to look at this. Let them take a look at it. We believe that this piece of legislation has targeted one particular religion. We are supposed to be a secular state. All religions are supposed to be treated equally. We believe that we have a right to be treated equally. We want the Supreme Court to adjudicate on this. Now we will wait…,” he told reporters, explaining the position of the ruling party on the Waqf Act.
The JKNC’s writ petition was submitted on April 11, reportedly following the direction of party president Farooq Abdullah and in support of the rights of religious minorities in India.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 officially came into effect on April 8, after being passed in Parliament. The bill was cleared in the Upper House following a 12-hour debate, with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. The President has since given his assent.
The Act brings amendments to the original Waqf Act of 1995, granting the government greater authority to oversee Waqf properties and resolve disputes. It also introduces measures aimed at enhancing the functionality of Waqf boards, redefining key terms, modernizing registration processes, and incorporating technological solutions for better records management.
Multiple organisations and political leaders have echoed JKNC’s concerns and have filed similar petitions in the Supreme Court. These include prominent figures such as AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress MPs Mohammad Jawed and Imran Pratapgarhi, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, and Chandra Shekhar Azad of the Azad Samaj Party.
In addition, religious and civil rights bodies like Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, Samastha Kerala Jamiatul Ulema, Social Democratic Party of India, Indian Union Muslim League, and the Association for Protection of Civil Rights have also sought judicial intervention.
As opposition to the Act continues to grow, all eyes are now on the Supreme Court for its verdict on whether the legislation aligns with India’s constitutional principles of secularism and equality.