Waqf law: Counsels in SC seek urgent hearing of pleas challenging validity

New Delhi: Among the many petitions filed against the new Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, which secured the President's assent on Saturday, the one filed by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind was specially mentioned in the Supreme Court on Monday. When Jamiat counsel Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, mentioned it for special hearing, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna took note of the submission and several other petitions have also been filed already. He said, "I will see the mentioning letter in the afternoon and take a call. We will list it."

The bench headed by the CJI has to take a call on several petitions including one by Samastha Kerala Jamiathul Ulema, all challenging the validity of the Act.

In its petition, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has said that this law was a "direct attack on the country's Constitution, which not only provides equal rights to its citizens but also grants them complete religious freedom".

President Droupadi Murmu's assent to the bill on Saturday came after both houses of Parliament passed it after heated debates in both Houses.

"This bill is a dangerous conspiracy to strip Muslims of their religious freedom. Therefore, we have challenged the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, in the Supreme Court, and the state units of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind will also challenge the constitutional validity of this law in the high courts of their respective states," the Jamiat stated.

(Inputs from PTI)