Six States approach Supreme Court to support Waqf Amendment Act. Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Assam have told the Supreme Court that the Waqf Amendment Act is valid and should be upheld.
New Delhi: Six states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party have approached the Supreme Court in support of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
The intervention plea submitted by these states highlights how their interests may be impacted if the constitutionality of the Amendment Act is questioned.
The State of Haryana has filed an intervention application in response to the challenge posed by AAP leader Amanatullah Khan regarding the Amendment Act’s validity.
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The Haryana government asserts that a primary goal of the Amendment Act is to establish unified management of Waqf properties, addressing ongoing issues such as incomplete surveys of these properties, inadequate accounting practices, significant backlogs in litigation within Waqf tribunals and boards, and irregular or missing property mutations, as well as auditing practices by Mutawallis.
The State of Maharashtra emphasizes the importance of assisting the Supreme Court with parliamentary records, recommendations, insights gathered from nationwide consultations, comparative analyses of religious endowment laws in India, and empirical data on the misuse and lack of transparency in Waqf administration.
The State of Madhya Pradesh argues that the Amendment Act aims to bring about significant reforms in the management and regulation of Waqf properties by enhancing transparency, accountability, and governance mechanisms.
The plea from Madhya Pradesh states,
“The said Act envisages a legally sound, technologically driven, and streamlined framework for the effective administration of Waqf assets, while furthering the socio-economic development of the intended beneficiaries,”
Rajasthan contends that historically, properties, including those privately held or owned by the State, have been unilaterally declared as Waqf properties without giving affected individuals or authorities the chance to object or be heard.
Rajasthan argues,
“The Amendment now mandates that a 90-day public notice be published in two widely circulated newspapers, thereby providing sufficient transparency, public awareness, and an opportunity for stakeholders to raise objections, if any. This provision curbs arbitrary notifications and fortifies procedural due process,”
The plea from the State of Chhattisgarh notes that the amendments aim to simplify processes and enhance coordination between Waqf Boards and local authorities.
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It asserts,
“The digital portal for waqf property management is intended to improve tracking, identification and oversight with a purpose of strengthening the auditing and accounting measures,”
Lastly, the State of Assam has indicated that it would be affected by any ruling from the Supreme Court, as the newly inserted Section 3E of the Amendment Act imposes restrictions on declaring any land in Scheduled or Tribal Areas (Fifth Schedule or Sixth Schedule) as waqf.
The plea states,
“In the Applicant-State, there are 8 Administrative Districts out of total 35, which are covered under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution,”
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, officially come into force on April 8, 2025, following its passage in Parliament and subsequent assent by President Droupadi Murmu.
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The Ministry of Minority Affairs has released an official notice confirming the enforcement of this Act.
President Droupadi Murmu granted her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was previously passed by Parliament amid intense debates in both Houses. Multiple petitions have already been filed in the apex court contesting the bill’s validity.
This amendment introduces significant reforms to the management and administration of waqf properties in India.
The Waqf Amendment Bill was passed after a 12-hour-long debate, securing 288 votes in favor and 232 against.