SC PROPOSES TO STAY KEY PROVISIONS OF WAQF ACT

Centre has sought detailed hearing before any interim order

- TDG NETWORK

In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Wednesday proposed to stay certain key provisions of the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, including the power to de-notify properties declared as waqf by courts and inclusion of non-Muslims in central Waqf councils and boards.

The top court proposed to pass the order, which was opposed by the Centre as it sought a detailed hearing before any such interim order.

The hearing relating to 72 petitions against the constitutionality of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 took place before a bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan.

The bench, which will continue with the hearing on Thursday, was miffed over the inclusion of non-Muslims in the central waqf councils and boards and asked the Centre whether it was willing to include Muslims in Hindu religious trusts.

After hearing solicitor general Tushar Mehta for the Centre and senior lawyers including Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhavan, Abhishek Singhvi, CU Singh for Muslim bodies and individual petitioners, the CJI proposed to issue the notice and to pass an interim order, saying it will "balance the equities".