The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will consider the question of interim relief on pleas challenging validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 on May 20.
According to Live Law, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai and AG Masih today heard Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, Rajiv Dhavan Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Huzefa Ahmedi and CU Singh (for petitioners) and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta (Respondent-Union).
The bench also asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, to file their written notes by Monday, May 19.
“We will be considering the issue of interim relief only on Tuesday (May 20, 2025),” the CJI said while adjourning the hearing on the pleas. The Bench said it will not consider any plea seeking a stay of provisions of earlier 1995 Waqf law when the matters are taken up on May 20, 2025.
SC also asserted that it would not permit any challenge to the Waqf Act, 1995 in a matter pertaining to the challenge to the 2025 Act.
"We will not consider any request or stay of the provisions of the 1995 Act. We are making it clear. Just because someone is trying to make a challenge to the 2025 Act, somebody just wants to jump in and challenge 1995 Act-that will not be permissible", Live Law reported quoting the bench
Former CJI Sanjiv Khanna, whose bench was hearing the matter, demitted office on May 13.
On April 17, the top court recorded the Centre's assurance of not denotifying waqf properties, including "waqf by user", or making appointments in the central waqf council and boards till May 5.
