Wed Apr 16 12:00:39 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Delays Ruling on Controversial Waqf Amendment Bill
**New Delhi** – The Supreme Court of India adjourned until tomorrow its hearing on a challenge to the recently amended Waqf Act, after the central government and several states requested more time to respond to the court’s concerns. The court had been poised to issue an interim order temporarily suspending certain provisions of the amended law, following concerns about post-amendment violence and the composition of Waqf boards.
A three-judge bench, led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, had drafted an interim order that would maintain the status quo on three key aspects of the law. This included halting the notification of any property declared as Waqf, allowing Collector proceedings to continue without the application of a contentious new provision, and ensuring that while ex-officio members of Waqf boards could be of any religion, other members must be Muslim.
Justice Khanna noted that while the court rarely issues such interim orders, the potential for a six-to-eight-month hearing warranted an exception. However, the government’s request for additional time to present its arguments led to the postponement.
The amended Waqf Act, passed earlier this month, has faced strong opposition from various quarters, including opposition parties like the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, DMK, CPI, and Janata Dal United, as well as religious organizations such as the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board. Petitioners argue that the law infringes on fundamental rights, including the right to equality and freedom of religion. The Supreme Court, while emphasizing its commitment to the separation of powers, agreed to hear the petitions due to the constitutional concerns raised. The hearing will resume at 2 pm tomorrow.
First Piper 