New Delhi, April 17: The Supreme Court has issued an interim stay on the implementation of the controversial amendments to the Waqf Act, 2025, in response to widespread protests and over 70 legal petitions challenging the new law’s constitutionality.
The court’s order halts all new appointments to Waqf boards and freezes any changes to the status of Waqf properties—including the contentious ‘waqf by user’ clause—until May 5. This decision comes in the wake of violent demonstrations, particularly in West Bengal, where three people have reportedly died during clashes with authorities.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, and AIMIM, have strongly criticized the amendments, alleging that the inclusion of non-Muslims on Waqf boards and the scrapping of ‘waqf by user’ provisions infringe upon the religious and administrative rights of the Muslim community.
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The apex court emphasized that the interim relief is aimed at restoring peace and allowing a thorough judicial review of the concerns raised, particularly regarding potential religious discrimination and government overreach.
A final verdict will depend on further hearings, scheduled to resume early next month.
