SC gives Centre one week to reply on Waqf Act, orders status quo on properties

THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK

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New Delhi, April 17: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted the central government one week to respond to petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The Court made it clear that until the next hearing, no changes are to be made to the existing status of waqf properties.

Appearing on behalf of the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought additional time, citing the wide-ranging implications of the case. He also opposed the idea of imposing an interim stay, calling it an unnecessarily harsh step. The bench accepted the request and allowed the government seven days to file its reply.

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In its interim order, a bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan directed that the status quo on waqf by user properties must be maintained. It also barred any new appointments under the Act until further orders.

The Solicitor General assured the bench that no waqf by user properties—particularly those registered or notified through the gazette—would be denotified, and no change would be made in the jurisdiction of the respective district collectors handling them.

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However, the government remains free to act on other properties that are not covered under registered or gazetted waqf by user listings.

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The Court observed that it was not feasible to go through over 100 files and decided to limit the case to five key objections. It asked the petitioners to reach a consensus on these core points and said the issues should be finalized through a nodal counsel.

The case has been listed for further hearing on May 5. The Centre reiterated that the Court should not stay a law enacted by Parliament and expressed readiness for daily hearings if needed.

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