The Supreme Court of India was approached on Monday with urgent pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the matter before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, requesting an urgent hearing. The CJI, upon being informed that the requisite email had already been sent, assured that the matter would be looked into by the afternoon. These petitions follow shortly after the Parliament passed the controversial bill on Friday, prompting legal and political outcry.

Several prominent political figures and parties have raised objections to the amended Waqf Act. Congress MP Mohammad Jawed argued that the legislation infringes upon fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, including the right to equality (Article 14), religious freedom (Articles 25 and 26), minority rights (Article 29), and the right to property (Article 300A). Similarly, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi filed a petition claiming that the amendments are unconstitutional and discriminatory, asserting that they undermine religious freedoms and property rights of minorities.

The Waqf system, an Islamic endowment for charitable purposes, has long served as a foundation for community welfare projects like mosques, schools, and hospitals. While critics argue that the amendments are politically motivated and divisive, the government maintains that the new law aims to streamline the administration of Waqf properties for the benefit of underprivileged Muslims. Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the law, stating it neither disrupts religious institutions nor harms community interests, and aligns with the government’s broader development agenda of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”