New Delhi [India], April 17 (HBTV): The Union government on Thursday assured the Supreme Court that it would refrain from denotifying properties previously declared as waqf by courts until the matter is next heard on May 5.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justices P.V. Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

The court took on record Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s assurance that no appointments would be made to the Central Waqf Council or the State Waqf Boards in the interim. The contentious legislation allows the inclusion of non-Muslim members in these key waqf institutions.

The court granted the Centre a week to file its response to the petitions challenging the validity of the Act.

In the previous hearing, the top court scrutinised key provisions of the law, including the derecognition of the waqf-by-user category of properties, the inclusion of non-Muslims in waqf administrative bodies, and the power granted to the state to alter the status of disputed waqf land.

The petitioners argued that waqfs—including their creation, management, and administration—constitute an integral aspect of the practice of Islam and are therefore entitled to constitutional protection. However, the government has defended the amendments as steps toward ensuring greater transparency and accountability.

The law was recently notified by the Centre after receiving the assent of President Droupadi Murmu on April 5, 2025. In the Rajya Sabha, the Bill passed with 128 votes in favour and 95 against—a narrower margin compared to the Lok Sabha, where it cleared with a lead of 56 votes.

(Inputs from The Hindu)