New Delhi [India], April 16: The Supreme Court is set to hear multiple petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 today at 2 p.m., with a bench led by the Chief Justice scheduled to preside over the matter.
Advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, appearing for Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta, submitted an intervention application defending the amendments to the Waqf Act, 1995. Sinha asserted that the changes align with the Constitution and were introduced after an extensive government review addressing nationwide complaints.
“We have prayed that the amendment is completely in consonance with the Constitution. Nobody’s fundamental rights have been violated. The changes were brought after the Government of India conducted a deep study on complaints from across the country,” Sinha stated.
He further alleged that the petitions lacked valid legal standing, claiming they were politically motivated. “The petitioners belong to political parties that are behind these writ petitions. We will present these facts before the Supreme Court and oppose any interim relief,” he added.
Advocate Pradeep Yadav, representing petitioners Tayyab Ahmed Sulemani and Anjum Qadri, confirmed that their pleas would also be heard at 2 p.m. He revealed that both petitions seek admission and an interim stay on the implementation of the amended Act.
A growing list of political leaders and organizations have challenged the Waqf (Amendment) Act, alleging it infringes on fundamental rights and undermines the autonomy of Muslim religious institutions. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress MPs Mohammad Jawed and Imran Pratapgarhi, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, and others have all filed petitions in the Supreme Court.
Further opposition comes from Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani, the Samastha Kerala Jamiatul Ulema, Indian Union Muslim League, and civil rights group Association for Protection of Civil Rights. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and several Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) lawmakers, including Manoj Jha and Faiyaz Ahmad, are also petitioners.
DMK MP A Raja, a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Bill, along with CPI General Secretary D Raja and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President and actor Vijay, have joined the legal challenge. In his plea, MP Mohammad Jawed argued that the legislation discriminates against the Muslim community by imposing restrictions not applicable to other religious endowments.
In contrast, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha’s Satish Kumar Aggarwal and Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta have submitted applications in support of the amended Act.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, received Presidential assent on April 5 and came into effect on April 8. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill following a 12-hour debate with 128 votes in favour and 95 against. It earlier cleared the Lok Sabha by a margin of 288 to 232.