SC to examine petitions challenging Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025

The Supreme Court on April 7 agreed to examine petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna's bench noted senior counsel Kapil Sibal's arguments, made on behalf of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, requesting the petitions be scheduled for an urgent hearing. Sibal pointed out that several other petitions had already been filed.

“I will see the mentioning letter in the afternoon and take a call. We will list it,” the Chief Justice said.

After contentious debates in both Houses, Parliament passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which President Droupadi Murmu signed into law on April 5.

The Act's validity is contested in multiple petitions submitted to the apex court, including one by Samastha Kerala Jamiathul Ulema. According to the petition from Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the law is a “direct attack on the country's Constitution, which guarantees equal rights to citizens and ensures religious freedom."

“This bill is a dangerous conspiracy to strip Muslims of their religious freedom. Therefore, we have challenged the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, in the Supreme Court, and the state units of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind will also challenge the constitutional validity of this law in their respective high courts,” the Jamiat said.