May 21, 2025 – The Supreme Court is hearing the petitions filed challenging the Constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. The case is before a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih.

Yesterday, May 20, the Court heard a number of pleas but no interim order was passed. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal was arguing on behalf of the petitioners along with senior advocates Rajeev Dhavan, AM Singhvi and Huzefa Ahmadi. The Union government was represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

In yesterday’s hearing, Sibal said that the amendments violate the fundamental right to manage religious affairs and that they constitute a “creeping acquisition” of Waqf properties. He further said that the failure to stay the 2025 amendments will cause irreparable damage.

Earlier, SG Tushar submitted that the Court could first deliberate on three particular concerns - whether properties declared as Waqf by Courts can be denotified, the legality of Waqf-by-user and Waqf-by-deed - before moving on to wider questions around the law.

The Apex Court will continue hearing the case today, May 21.

With Media Inputs