Waqf Amendment Sparks Uproar: Supreme Court to Decide Fate on April 16

The Indian Supreme Court is scheduled to consider a batch of petitions questioning the constitutional legitimacy of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, on April 16. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and consisting of Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan, will hear complaints raised by more than 15 petitioners, including senior political figures, religious groups, and NGOs.

The Act, which was enacted on April 8 after getting the presidential assent, has elicited strong criticism for purportedly violating the Muslim community's rights. The critics contend that the amendments violate religious autonomy and make discriminatory restrictions on Waqf properties. Notable petitioners are AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), and the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, among others. They argue that the law infringes on basic rights under Articles 14, 25, and 26 of the Constitution.

The government justifies the Act as a step towards modernizing Waqf property management by reforms such as a Central Portal and greater transparency. However, critics argue it enables excessive government intervention and sidelines minority rights.

This hearing promises to be a landmark judicial examination of minority rights and state control over religious endowments.

Source: ANI, Business Standard