New Delhi: Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi on Monday approached the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the new Waqf law. At the same time, a petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court against the Waqf law on behalf of Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK. In this way, more than 10 petitions have been filed in the apex court so far challenging the validity of the Act. Apart from Tamil Nadu's ruling party DMK and Imram Pratapgarhi, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress MP Mohammad Javed, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind have also filed a petition against the new Waqf law.
DMK and Congress MP's petition in SC
DMK Deputy General Secretary A Raja approached the apex court. He said that despite widespread opposition, the central government passed the Waqf Amendment Bill without proper consideration of the objections raised by the members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and other stakeholders. The party said that the immediate implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act violates the rights of about 50 lakh Muslims in Tamil Nadu and 20 crore Muslims in other parts of the country.
CJI agreed for urgent hearing
Earlier in the day, a bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Vishwanathan agreed to consider the petitions of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Owaisi, Congress MP Mohammad Javed and AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, among others, on the issue, listing them for urgent hearing. President Draupadi Murmu on April 5 approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed by Parliament after a late-night debate in both Houses.
All India Muslim Personal Law Board has also filed a petition
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board filed a petition in the apex court late on April 6. Its spokesperson SQR Ilyas said in a statement that the petition strongly objected to the amendments passed by Parliament as these amendments are 'arbitrary, discriminatory and based on exclusion'. According to the statement, this amendment is not only a violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India but it also clearly exposes the government's intention to take complete control over the administration of Waqf.
Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind also reached Supreme Court
Ilyas said that this law deprives Muslim minorities from the management of their religious endowment. Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind also filed a petition in the Supreme Court claiming that it is a dangerous conspiracy to snatch away the religious freedom of Muslims. Jamiat said in its petition that this law is a direct attack on the Constitution of the country, which not only provides equal rights to its citizens but also provides them complete religious freedom.
More than 10 petitions have been filed
'Samasta Kerala Jamiat Ul Ulema', a religious organization of Sunni Muslim scholars and clerics in Kerala, in its separate petition filed in the apex court claimed that this Act is a clear interference in the rights of the religious sect. NGO 'Association for the Protection of Civil Rights' has also filed a petition in the apex court challenging the constitutional validity of the Act.
AAP MLA Amanatullah has also reached the Supreme Court
In the Rajya Sabha, 128 members voted in favor of the Waqf Bill and 95 members voted against it. In the Lok Sabha, 288 members supported it while 232 voted against it. 'AAP' MLA Amanatullah Khan demanded that this law be declared unconstitutional. In the petition filed by him, this law has been described as a violation of 'Articles 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30 and 300-A of the Constitution'.
