A Major Setback for the Centre: Supreme Court Maintains Status Quo on Waqf Properties

New Delhi: The Supreme Court, while hearing petitions challenging the Waqf Amendment Act, issued an interim order on Thursday stating that no Waqf properties should be de-notified until May 5. The Court also ruled that all members of the Waqf Board and the Central Waqf Council must be Muslims, except for ex officio members. Additionally, the Supreme Court put on hold the provision in the Waqf Amendment Act that grants District Collectors the authority to conduct inquiries into Waqf properties.
The interim order was passed by a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjiv Kumar and K. V. Viswanathan, after considering the petitions filed against the amendment. However, the Court clarified that the Waqf Amendment Act has not been completely stayed.
Approximately 140 petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Waqf law amendment. The Court noted that detailed arguments will be heard in five selected petitions. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 5. The Supreme Court also sought certain clarifications regarding the Centre’s arguments and granted seven days for a response.