GOVT WILL NOT DENOTIFY WAQF ASSETS TILL MAY 5

The Supreme Court grants a week to the Centre to file response to pleas challenging the Waqf Act

- AGENCIES

The Centre on Thursday assured the Supreme Court that it will neither denotify Waqf properties, including "Waqf by user", nor make any appointments to the Central Waqf Council and Boards till May 5.

The assurance of solicitor general Tushar Mehta came when he informed a bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan that the Waqf law was passed by Parliament with "due deliberations" and it should not be stayed without hearing the government.

The Centre also strongly opposed the apex court's proposal to pass an interim order against the denotification of Waqf properties, including 'Waqf by user', aside from staying a provision allowing the inclusion of non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Councils and Boards.

"During the course of hearing, the solicitor general states that the respondent (Union of India) would like to put in a short response within seven days. He further states and assures that till the next date of hearing, no appointments will be made to the Council and Boards under sections 9 and 14 (of the Act),". the bench said.