SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a new petition challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, stating it cannot handle “hundreds” of petitions on the same matter.
A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar directed petitioner Syed Ali Akbar to instead file an intervention application in one of the five cases already pending before the Court. These cases are scheduled for hearing on May 5, primarily to address interim relief.
“You may withdraw this. We have already passed an order on April 17 stating that only five petitions will be heard,” Chief Justice Khanna told the petitioner.
Earlier, on April 17, the Court had consolidated all challenges to the Act under five petitions, titled In Re: Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. So far, approximately 72 petitions have been filed against the legislation, including those by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, and others.
The bench also appointed three nodal counsel to coordinate and decide which lawyers would present arguments during the hearing. Petitioners were granted five days to submit rejoinders to the Centre’s reply.
The next hearing, set for May 5, will address preliminary objections and interim orders. Meanwhile, the Centre has assured the Court that it will not denotify any waqf properties or make appointments to the Central Waqf Council until the matter is heard. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, maintained that the legislation had been passed following “due deliberations” and urged the Court not to stay its operation without first hearing the Centre’s arguments.
