In a time when many citizens are looking to the judiciary for hope and justice, the Supreme Court has taken a bold and clear step. On Friday, it refused to accept any more fresh pleas challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. For people emotionally invested in this issue, the news may feel disappointing.
Only Five Petitions Will Be Heard
A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan, stood firm in its decision to stick with just five out of the over 70 petitions filed. Petitioner Mohammad Sultan was the latest to be turned away, as the bench clarified that no additional petitions would be accepted. Instead, those with new points can file an intervention application, not a fresh case.
This is in line with the Supreme Court earlier decisions. On April 29, the same bench had already refused to entertain thirteen other petitions. Their reasoning was straightforward: accepting too many cases would cause unnecessary delays and make it difficult to manage the legal process. “This will keep on piling and would become difficult to handle,” said the Chief Justice, underlining the court’s need for discipline and structure in such a large-scale constitutional matter.
Background of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025
The issue gained national attention after the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which many groups believe affects community rights. The law was passed after intense debates in both houses of Parliament. In the Rajya Sabha, 128 members voted in favour while 95 opposed it. In the Lok Sabha, the bill passed with 288 votes for and 232 against.
Prominent political and religious leaders have joined the fight against the Act. Among the 72 petitioners are AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and Congress MPS Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammad Jawed. But despite the sheer number of petitioners, the Supreme Court has chosen to concentrate only on five select cases for the sake of clarity and manageability.
What Comes Next?
On May 5, the bench is scheduled to hear the case titled “In Re: Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025”. The Supreme Court has appointed three lawyers as nodal counsel and instructed them to decide who among them will lead the arguments. This hearing will primarily focus on preliminary objections and interim relief. Until then, the Centre has assured that no waqf property will be de-notified, and no appointments will be made to the Central Waqf Council or its boards.
The outcome of this case is likely to shape the future of how religious and community properties are managed in India. Many are anxiously awaiting the next step in this important legal journey.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available legal and news sources for informational purposes only. It does not intend to support or oppose any legal or political standpoint. Readers are advised to follow official court updates for the most accurate and current information.
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