New Delhi [India], April 10: Intervention applications have been filed in the Supreme Court in support of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, asserting that the amendments align with the constitutional framework of India.
These applications, submitted by Satish Kumar Aggarwal, a member of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, and Vishnu Gupta, National President of Hindu Sena, oppose the petitions challenging the amended Waqf law.
An intervention application allows third parties to join ongoing legal proceedings, aiming to present relevant perspectives that may affect the outcome.
The applicants argued that there has been no infringement of the rights of the Muslim community and that the amendment was necessary to prevent misuse of the law. They cited Section 40 of the original Waqf Act, 1995, which permitted the Waqf Board to declare properties as Waqf lands based on belief and information—an alleged loophole that led to large-scale land acquisitions.
Filed through advocate Barun Sinha, the applications emphasized that no law should empower religious authorities with unchecked authority to acquire property, asserting:
“The Waqf Act, 1954, and its successor, the Waqf Act, 1995, contradict the spirit of the Constitution of India. The 2025 amendments rectified these draconian provisions.”
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justices Sanjay Kumar, and KV Viswanathan is scheduled to hear a consolidated batch of petitions challenging the Act on April 16.
Meanwhile, the Central Government filed a caveat application, requesting the Supreme Court not to pass any order without hearing its stance, in response to multiple petitions against the Act.
Opponents argue that the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, is discriminatory toward the Muslim community and infringes on fundamental rights. Among those who have approached the apex court include:
- AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi
- Congress MPs Mohammad Jawed and Imran Pratapgarhi
- AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan
- Azad Samaj Party President Chandra Shekhar Azad
- Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq
- Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind and Samastha Kerala Jamiatul Ulema
- Indian Union Muslim League, Social Democratic Party of India, and NGO Association for Protection of Civil Rights
- All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB)
- RJD MPs Manoj Jha and Faiyaz Ahmad, and MLA Muhammad Izhar Asfi
- DMK MP A Raja, who was on the Joint Parliamentary Committee for the Waqf Bill
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 received Presidential assent from Droupadi Murmu on April 5, following intense parliamentary debates.