Waqf Amendment Act: Supreme Court Grants Centre Seven Days To File Its Response; Next Hearing On 5 May

The central government on Thursday (17 April) informed the Supreme Court that it will not implement certain contentious provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, for the time being, Bar & Bench reported.

This incudes the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council, and the de-notification of properties already declared waqf by courts.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan noted the assurance given by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in this regard.

"During course of hearing SG Mehta states that the respondents would like to file a short reply within 7 days and assured that till next date no appointment shall take place to board and councils under 2025 Act. He also assures that waqfs including waqf by user already declared by notification or gazetted, their status shall not be changed," the order stated.

The Court granted the Centre seven days to respond to pleas for stay of the provisions of the Act, and allowed petitioners five days thereafter to file a rejoinder.

The case will be next heard on 5 May.

“The hearing on the next date will only be for directions and interim orders if any,” the Bench clarified.

The Centre's decision comes a day after the tense and scrutinised hearing on Wednesday (16 April), in which the Supreme Court raised constitutional issues regarding the Act.

The Bench questioned the inclusion of non-Muslims within Muslim religious organizations and provisions that seemed to erode autonomy under Article 26.

Senior advocates such as Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and CU Singh contended that the law infringed on religious freedom, mandated unconstitutional tests of faith, and threatened bureaucratic intervention in waqf properties.

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