SC’s order on Waqf act goes long way towards “undoing mischievous intentions”: Jairam Ramesh
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has hailed the Supreme Court’s recent interim order on the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 as a big win for India’s core constitutional values like justice, equality, and fraternity. In a post on X, he called it a major victory for opposition parties challenging the law and even for dissenting voices in the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Ramesh pointed out that the order helps counter the “mischievous intentions” behind some parts of the Waqf Amendment Act. He slammed the BJP-led government, saying certain provisions were designed to stir up religious tensions and keep voters divided by letting anyone challenge Waqf property status through local collectors, leaving properties in legal limbo.
The Supreme Court, in a hearing led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, didn’t halt the entire Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. Instead, it stayed key sections until a final decision on its constitutional validity. For starters, the court paused the rule requiring someone to practice Islam for five years before creating a Waqf. The bench noted this could lead to unfair power plays without clear rules to verify religious practice.
The judges also blocked the provision letting district collectors decide if Waqf properties encroach on government land. They argued this would blur the lines of separation of powers, as collectors aren’t equipped to rule on citizens’ property rights. Ramesh welcomed these moves, saying they protect against arbitrary actions that could fuel disputes.
On the other side, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju praised the Supreme Court order on Waqf Amendment Act, calling it a positive sign for parliamentary democracy. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, he said the government’s side was strongly presented, and the court rightly focused on specific provisions rather than questioning Parliament’s authority. “Some people unnecessarily drag valid laws to court, but this shows trust in our institutions,” Rijiju added.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi echoed similar sentiments, stressing that the court can review any parliamentary law, and the government has defended its stance well. He hit out at opposition parties, accusing a “corrupt lobby” of opposing the Waqf Amendment Act to protect their interests. “This reform aims to safeguard faith and fix the Waqf system, but they’re creating chaos and pushing communal divides in our secular nation,” Naqvi told .
For context, the Waqf (Amendment) Act was introduced in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on April 2 and 3, passed by both houses, and got President assent on April 5, making it official law. As petitions challenging its validity play out, this interim stay brings temporary relief to concerns over Waqf property rights and religious practices in India.
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