One major concern raised by Hassan is that the amended law now prevents Scheduled Tribes (STs) who follow Islam from donating their property as Waqf, which he argues is a violation of their fundamental right to practise their religion.
New Delhi – Sheikh Noorul Hassan, the National People’s Party (NPP) MLA from Kshetrigao constituency in Manipur, has approached the Supreme Court against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Hassan, whose party is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Manipur, has filed a petition raising serious concerns over the recent amendments made to the Waqf Act.
According to Hassan, the new law could “distort the religious character of Waqfs.”
His plea also claims that the changes made to the Act would “irreversibly damage the democratic process in the administration of Waqfs and Waqf Boards.”
One major concern raised by Hassan is that the amended law now prevents Scheduled Tribes (STs) who follow Islam from donating their property as Waqf, which he argues is a violation of their fundamental right to practise their religion.
The petition describes the amendments as being “in the nature of land grabbing by the government, who is expected to protect the Waqf properties.”
The matter will be heard by a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan, on April 16.
Multiple petitions have already been filed in the apex court, all challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Central Government has filed a caveat application in the Supreme Court, requesting the court not to pass any order without hearing its side. A caveat application ensures that the government will be notified and heard before any decision is taken.
Several prominent individuals, political leaders, religious bodies, and organisations have already filed similar petitions against the Act. They argue that the law discriminates against the Muslim community and violates their fundamental rights.
On April 5, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill after both Houses of Parliament passed it amid intense debate.
Opposition to the law has come from a wide range of political and social groups, including:
- Asaduddin Owaisi, Member of Parliament from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)
- Mohammad Jawed and Imran Pratapgarhi, Congress MPs
- Amanatullah Khan, AAP MLA
- Chandra Shekhar Azad, MP and President of Azad Samaj Party
- Zia Ur Rehman Barq, Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal
- Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind (Islamic clerics’ body)
- Samastha Kerala Jamiatul Ulema, a body of Sunni scholars in Kerala
- Social Democratic Party of India
- Indian Union Muslim League
- Association for Protection of Civil Rights (NGO)
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court, stating that it “strongly objected to the amendments passed by Parliament for being ‘arbitrary, discriminatory and based on exclusion‘”.
In addition, Rajya Sabha MPs Manoj Jha and Faiyaz Ahmad from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), along with RJD MLA Muhammad Izhar Asfi from Bihar, have also challenged the law. They say the law would allow the government to interfere extensively in Muslim religious properties.
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Even the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party from Tamil Nadu has moved the Supreme Court. Their MP A Raja, who was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Bill, has also opposed the Act in court.
