Supreme Court set to hear pleas against Waqf Act today, Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMPLB, Congress among petitioners

The Supreme Court is set to hear a series of petitions today, challenging the legality of the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. A special three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna along with Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan, is expected to take up the matter around 2 PM. This law, which was cleared by Parliament in early April and signed by the President shortly after, has sparked significant political debate. The Congress party, strongly opposing the Act, had announced its decision to approach the Supreme Court, claiming that the amendments go against the foundational values of the Constitution and are intended to create religious division in the country.

The opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 has drawn support from a wide range of political leaders and religious figures. Key political voices backing the challenge include Asaduddin Owaisi, lawmakers from the Congress and Trinamool Congress, along with representatives from several other parties. Prominent religious bodies like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind are also at the forefront of the legal push against the law.

Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, who also serves as the party’s whip in the Lok Sabha, filed one of the main petitions. He argues that the new provisions violate several constitutional rights, including the right to equality (Article 14), freedom of religion (Articles 25 and 26), protection of cultural and educational rights for minorities (Article 29), and the right to property (Article 300A).

A separate petition filed by AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi echoed similar concerns. His plea described the amendments as clearly unconstitutional and said they were discriminatory, arbitrary, and infringed on various fundamental rights such as Articles 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, and 300A.

Other individuals and organizations have also joined the legal battle against the Act. These include AAP leader Amanatullah Khan, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind’s Maulana Arshad Madani, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, SDPI, the Indian Union Muslim League, and citizens like Taiyyab Khan Salmani and Anjum Kadari.

Meanwhile, six states governed by the BJP—Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Assam—have submitted their own petitions. These states argue that scrapping or changing the Act could lead to major legal and administrative complications.

Defending the legislation, the central government has said it aims to uplift economically weaker sections of the Muslim community. Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, clarified that the law does not touch or interfere with existing Waqf properties. He emphasized that the government’s motive is inclusive growth and development for all, in line with the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”

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