The Congress on Thursday lauded the Supreme Court’s observations regarding the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal stated that the Court’s remarks have highlighted significant concerns raised by opposition parties both within and outside the Parliament.
In a post on X, Venugopal emphasised that the observations have opened the floor for a much-needed debate regarding the contentious legislation, which he argued was rushed through without adequately addressing the legitimate issues raised during the Joint Parliamentary Committee deliberations and subsequent discussions in Parliament.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court noted that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, assured that no appointments would be made to waqf bodies until the next court date and affirmed that the character of waqf properties would remain unchanged. This revelation has prompted strong reactions from various political leaders.
“The Court’s pointed remarks raise serious constitutional questions about the Act’s infringement on fundamental rights and expose its divisive implications,” Venugopal added. “The fight to defend the idea of India — inclusive, plural, and just — will continue, in the courts and with the people.”
At a press conference following the Supreme Court’s ruling, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi criticised the Amendment Act, declaring it “retaliation in the guise of reform.” He condemned the legislation as a veiled attempt to control religious autonomy, suggesting that it redefines community rights under bureaucratic oversight.
“The Waqf Amendment Act is not an exercise in efficiency as it pretends to be. It is an exercise in erasure,” Singhvi asserted, highlighting that the language used in the Act disguises a broader ambition for governmental control over religious matters.
Asaduddin Owaisi, chief of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM), stated that the legal battle against the Waqf Amendment Act would persist. “The Supreme Court has issued a stay on the deletion of waqf by users and halted the formation of the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards,” he noted. Owaisi criticised the Act as unconstitutional, reiterating his dissent during the parliamentary discussions on the bill.
In response to inquiries about whether the Supreme Court’s order provided relief, Owaisi cautioned against a simplistic interpretation, emphasising that under the Act, a Muslim must have been practising for five years to donate property as waqf.
The Supreme Court’s three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, also documented the Centre’s assurances regarding the suspension of appointments to the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards under the contested amended Sections 9 and 14 of the Waqf Act. The next hearing has been scheduled for the week commencing May 5.
Solicitor General Mehta requested an additional seven days to compile a comprehensive response that encompasses over a century of legislative history surrounding the issue and the numerous representations received concerning the 2025 Act. He argued against a stay on the Act’s provisions based on a “prima facie or tentative reading” of certain sections, urging the Court to consider the broader context.