Mumbai: Congress Working Committee member and former Maharashtra minister Naseem Khan has warmly welcomed the interim order given by the Supreme Court on the Waqf Act and said that this decision of the court once again shows the mirror to the Modi government. The BJP government has the misconception that after getting an overwhelming majority in Parliament, it has got the right to trample the Constitution, but the court has made it clear that the biggest power in democracy is the Constitution, not the majority of any political party. This order of the Supreme Court is a tight slap on the arrogance of the Modi government and reminds that no one can suppress the voice of the Constitution.

In his statement to the media, Naseem Khan said that in the last several years, the BJP government has repeatedly made such laws which aim to target the weaker sections of the society and weaken the constitutional values. The Waqf Amendment Act is also a link in the same chain through which the government tried to curb the religious and social freedom of the minorities. However, this interim order of the Supreme Court has proved that the court is still the protector of constitutional rights and no government can be allowed to distort the structure of the Constitution in the arrogance of its power. He appealed to the people to have faith in constitutional institutions and believe that no power can last long in front of the truth. He said that today is a ray of hope for all those citizens who were worried about the implementation of this law for the last several months.

It is worth noting that last year the BJP government at the Center got the Waqf Amendment Bill passed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on the basis of its numerical majority. Many petitions were filed against this law from different states of the country, in which the stance was taken that this amendment law is not only against the spirit of the Indian Constitution, but also directly attacks the constitutional rights of the minorities. Today, the Supreme Court of the country issued an important interim order and stayed the implementation of many provisions of this controversial amendment law. This decision not only weakened the government’s position, but also provided temporary relief to millions of people concerned about this law. This move of the court is being seen in political, social and legal circles as a demonstration of the supremacy of the Constitution.

Mumbai: Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Raees Sheikh has welcomed the interim stay granted by the Supreme Court on Monday on some provisions of the Waqf Board (Amendment) Act, 2025 and expressed satisfaction.

On the court’s decision, Raees Sheikh said that the committee of the Waqf Board can have a maximum of four non-Muslim members. That is, a majority of the 11 should be with Muslims. The court has directed that wherever possible, the Chief Executive Officer of the board should be a Muslim.

The condition for becoming a member of the Waqf Board was to practice Islam for five years. The provision was suspended saying that this provision will not be implemented until the government makes clear laws. Raees Sheikh said that the court’s clarification that the Waqf Board cannot be deprived of its property until the ownership of the Waqf property is decided by the Waqf Tribunal and the High Court is a slap in the face of the central government.

This decision is temporary. No decision can be made until the rules of this law are formulated. But this interim decision is satisfactory and increases confidence in the court.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday delivered a significant verdict on the *Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The court refused to suspend the entire Act but imposed an *interim stay on several controversial provisions. The ruling has triggered widespread debate as the Waqf law has long been a politically and socially sensitive issue.

Which Provisions Have Been Suspended?

1. Five-Year Practicing Muslim Condition
   The Act required that a person establishing a Waqf must have been a “practicing Muslim” for at least five years. The Supreme Court stayed this provision, observing that the term lacks a clear definition and cannot be enforced without proper guidelines.
2. Collector’s Authority Over Waqf Property
   The amendment empowered District Collectors to decide whether a property qualifies as Waqf property. The court suspended this clause, stating that it could undermine citizens’ rights and interfere with judicial processes.
3. Cap on Non-Muslim Members in Waqf Boards and Council
   The Act limited the inclusion of non-Muslims to three in State Waqf Boards and four in the Central Waqf Council. The Supreme Court has stayed this restriction as well.
4. CEO Must Be from Muslim Community
   Another provision directed that, as far as possible, the CEO of a Waqf Board should belong to the Muslim community. This clause has also been put on hold.

The bench clarified that suspending the entire law would not be appropriate, but certain disputed provisions must remain on hold until the matter is fully heard. All stakeholders will be allowed to present detailed arguments in the upcoming hearings.

Opposition parties have welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, calling it a safeguard of constitutional values, while the government has defended the amendment, saying it aimed to bring more transparency and accountability in Waqf property management.

For now, the stay is interim and will remain effective until the court delivers its final verdict. The upcoming hearings will determine whether these provisions will be struck down permanently or modified for compliance with constitutional principles.

This ruling is expected to have a major impact on Waqf property administration across India and will likely fuel further nationwide debate in the coming months.