Govt promises status quo on waqfs, buys time from bench

Supreme Court sets May 5 for next hearing, possible interim order on the Act

- Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty @ New Delhi

THE Centre on Thursday managed to buy more time from the Supreme Court — which wanted to issue interim orders — to explain its position on the genesis of the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

It agreed to file a preliminary response to the pleas challenging the validity of the Act within a week, adding no appointments would be made to the Central Waqf Council and the Waqf Boards till the next date of hearing, which is May 5.

Also, no waqf, including waqf by user, shall be de-notified, nor will their character or status change till May 5, the government assured.