New Delhi [India] : As the Supreme Court began hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, several opposition leaders expressed optimism that the judiciary would provide relief against what they described as a targeted and discriminatory law.
Congress MP Imran Masood, one of the petitioners, voiced hope in the court’s intervention. “The Waqf Bill is unconstitutional. In the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), no substantial deliberation took place. We are confident the Supreme Court will uphold justice,” he said.
RJD MP Manoj Jha also expressed faith in the legal process, recalling earlier proceedings. “The Supreme Court had made important observations and raised serious questions to the government. I believe relief will come. Our party stands firm as a petitioner,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain criticized the legislation, alleging it targets a specific community. “The Act is discriminatory. Many petitions have been filed, and we are hopeful that the court will at least stay the unconstitutional provisions until the full case is heard,” he said.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 officially came into effect on April 8 after being passed in both Houses of Parliament on April 2 and 3 and receiving Presidential assent on April 5. In response, several petitions were filed across courts demanding a stay on its enforcement.
On April 25, the Union Government submitted a preliminary affidavit in the Supreme Court defending the law, arguing that it does not infringe upon the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The government referenced earlier legal precedents, including ongoing petitions against the original Waqf Act of 1995 and its 2013 amendments—none of which have resulted in an interim stay.
With the matter now before the apex court, the case has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over minority rights and legislative overreach.