In a pivotal legal development, six BJP-ruled states have approached the Supreme Court to endorse the constitutionality of the recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The states, which include Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, have filed separate petitions emphasizing the necessity of the amendments for efficient Waqf property management.
The petitions come as a three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan, prepares to hear a batch of petitions at 2 pm today. These petitions challenge the constitutional validity of the Waqf law, including a prominent one filed by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi.
State Governments Outline Importance of Amendments
Each state has presented arguments highlighting different aspects of the Waqf law they believe are crucial:
- Haryana has underscored the dire need for reform in the management of Waqf properties, pointing to issues like incomplete property surveys and inadequate record-keeping.
- Maharashtra intends to assist the court by providing insights from parliamentary records, national consultations, and comparative frameworks of religious endowment laws across India.
- Madhya Pradesh focuses on the Waqf law’s goal to foster a legally robust and technology-driven system that enhances transparency and accountability.
- Rajasthan addresses the need for procedural fairness, advocating for a public notice period before declaring properties as Waqf assets, which they argue ensures transparency and allows stakeholders to raise objections.
- Chhattisgarh highlights the importance of simplifying administrative procedures and the potential benefits of a digital portal for managing Waqf properties more effectively.
- Assam emphasizes the specific provisions in the law that prevent the declaration of land in Scheduled or Tribal Areas as Waqf property, arguing that this is crucial for protecting the rights of indigenous populations.
Uttarakhand Waqf Board Seeks to Intervene
Adding to the list of supporters, the Uttarakhand Waqf Board has filed an application seeking permission to intervene in the case. The Board advocates for the amendments, asserting they are essential for the proper governance and regulation of Waqf properties across the country.
