‘Centre to give its response,’ says BJP MP Jagdambika Pal as SC hears pleas on Waqf (Amendment) Act

NEW DELHI: Ahead of hearing in Supreme Court on Monday of pleas challenging constitutional validity of Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who also chairs the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Waqf, said the Central government will submit its response before the Supreme Court, which will pronounce its verdict after considering the matter.

“Central govt will give its response and Supreme Court will pronounce the verdict. The question raised by opposition leaders in their petition is why non-Muslims are being included in the Waqf board, as it’s a religious body. On this, several judgments have already been delivered by the courts that the Waqf Board is not a religious body governed by Sharia. It is a statutory executive body that manages Waqf properties,” Pal told reporters.

He further defended the amendments, emphasizing their focus on welfare. “The purpose of making amendments in Waqf is to give benefit to the poor, Pasmanda and the OBC Muslim community,” he added.

After Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which was recently passed by Parliament, came into effect from April 8. Soon after its enactment, a number of petitions were filed in various courts seeking a stay on the operation of the Act.

Following which on April 25, the Union Government filed its preliminary affidavit in the Supreme Court, seeking the dismissal of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, as it stated that the law does not violate the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, which was tabled in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on April 2 and 3, respectively, was passed in both Houses and later received the President’s assent on April 5, after which it became law.

It has referred to earlier precedents, particularly the cases challenging the Waqf Act, 1995, along with its 2013 amendments.

In those cases–referred to as the “original petitions”–several challenges were made, but no interim stay was ever granted by the courts. It is also important to note that many of those petitions are still pending before different High Courts and the Supreme Court, and continue without any interim relief. (ANI)