The Supreme Court is scheduled to issue interim orders concerning legal challenges against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. These pleas question several provisions of the recently enacted law. Three primary issues are under consideration by the court. Firstly, the power granted by the Act to denotify properties previously declared as waqf through various means, including court rulings, usage, or deeds. Secondly, petitioners have raised concerns regarding the composition of state waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council, contending that membership should primarily be limited to Muslims, with the exception of ex officio members. The third point of contention involves a provision that allows a property to cease being classified as waqf if a collector’s inquiry determines it to be government land. In response to these challenges, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs submitted a detailed affidavit on April 25, defending the Act and arguing against any broad judicial stay, emphasizing its presumption of constitutionality. The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, was notified on April 8, following its assent by President Droupadi Murmu on April 5, and its passage by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha earlier in April.
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