Politics
Delhi High Court seeks Centre’s response on plea against Waqf Act
The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought Centre’s response on a plea challenging the constitutional validity of the provisions of the Waqf Act of 1995 and terming it “arbitrary.”
Issuing notices to the Ministry of Law and Justice and Central Waqf Council, a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla clubbed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with other similar petitions and posted for hearing on July 28.
The plea was challenging the Waqf Act 1995 and calling it an entirely violative inter-alia of the scheme of the Constitution and more particularly Articles 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 25, 26 and 300A.
In the plea, petitioner Adv Devendra Nath Sharma contended that the Central government doesn’t have the legislative competence to make laws with respect to Waqf and religious Muslim properties at the exclusion of non-Muslim citizens of India.
He also argued for directions for a Uniform Civil Code which can govern the private properties of citizens under the Constitution. “The upkeep and control of religious Waqf properties in India is a private affair/purpose and not a public purpose, therefore state can’t be permitted to manage the same at the expense of public money,” it read.
In a similar petition, BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay had recently approached the court.
His PIL contended that there is no safeguard for Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, and other communities to save their properties from inclusion in the list of Waqf issued by Waqf Boards. Therefore, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Bahais, Christians, and Zoroastrians are discriminated. It offends Articles 14-15, it said.
Petitioner Upadhyay was challenging the vires of S. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14 of the Act, stating these provisions grant special status to Waqf properties denying equal status to Trust, Mutts, Akharas, Societies, and confer unbridled powers to Waqf Boards to register any property as Waqf property.
Navi Mumbai: Navi Mumbai police will impose traffic restrictions on the service road near Dr. D. Y. Patil Stadium in Nerul from January 9 to January 17, 2026, to ensure security and smooth movement during the BCCI Women’s Premier League (WPL) T20 cricket matches.
According to the traffic control notification issued by the Turbhe Traffic Division, all types of vehicles will be barred from plying and parking on the service road between Bhimashankar Society and the L.P. Rickshaw Stand from 7 am to 11 pm on match days, as the route has been earmarked for the movement of players and dignitaries.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Tirupati Kakade said the restrictions are being enforced under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act to prevent congestion and maintain law and order in the stadium vicinity during the matches.
Commuters have been advised to use the Sion–Panvel Highway, specifically the Uran Phata to L.P. Bridge stretch, as an alternative route to reach their destinations.
The restrictions will not apply to vehicles carrying essential commodities, police vehicles, fire brigade units, ambulances, government vehicles, other emergency services, and vehicles holding official passes issued by the WPL/IPL management.
Mumbai Press Exclusive News
Providing basic amenities to Mumbai is our priority, Samajwadi Party’s election manifesto released, Abu Asim Azmi claims to solve urban problems
Mumbai: The Samajwadi Party released its election manifesto for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections at a press conference today. The party’s Maharashtra president Abu Asim Azmi presented this manifesto keeping in mind the basic problems of the people of Mumbai. Abu Asim Azmi has also promised free water supply along with basic amenities in the election manifesto. It has been promised to provide 700 liters of clean and free drinking water to every family in Mumbai daily. To raise the standard of education, it has been decided to improve the quality of municipal schools and provide scholarships and free facilities to needy students for higher education. It has also been declared necessary to arrange modern medical facilities, neighborhood clinics and free medicines in every ward of Mumbai in the medical department and health department. In addition, efforts have been made for equal employment opportunities. Creating new employment opportunities for the youth and making special projects to eliminate unemployment are also part of the election manifesto. Providing better facilities for the residents of slums, pucca houses and pothole-free roads in the city, bringing transparency in the functioning of BMC and eliminating corruption are also the main components of the election manifesto. Addressing the press conference, Abu Asim Azmi said that the Samajwadi Party is committed to the development of Mumbai and to providing its people with their fundamental rights. Our aim is not just to make promises but to make Mumbai a better and prosperous city.
National News
BMC Elections 2026: Mumbai Candidates Declare Massive Surge In Assets, Multi-Crore Wealth Revealed In Affidavits
Mumbai, Jan 08: Details of assets, profession and criminal records of selected candidates contesting the upcoming civic elections in Mumbai, as declared in their affidavits, are as follows:
Shaila Dilip Lande – Shiv Sena (Shinde), Ward 163 (Saki Naka)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹8,18,76,134
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹14,27,651
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Kamalakar Naik – Independent, Ward 169 (Kurla Nehru Nagar)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹11,83,36,519
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹1,92,76,226
Criminal cases: 2
Found guilty: 0
Dhanajay Pisal – Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar), Ward 111 (Kanjur Village)
Profession: Service
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹21,82,57,202
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2019: ₹8,55,21,925
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Sonam Manoj Jamsutkar – Shiv Sena (UBT), Ward 210 (Mumbai Central)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹14,38,84,259
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹7,08,67,928
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Geeta Gawli – Akhil Bhartiya Sena, Ward 212 (Mahalaxmi–Umar Park)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹7,26,92,393
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹3,45,32,902
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Sana Haji Halim Khan – Shiv Sena (UBT), Ward 96 (Bandra East)
Profession: Not mentioned
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹9,46,03,435
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: Not contested
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Nehal Shah – Independent, Ward 177 (Matunga)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹7,04,11,095
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹1,69,77,255
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Rajul Sameer Desai – BJP, Ward 56 (Goregaon)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹24,28,81,925
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹1,79,69,000
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Prabhakar Shinde – BJP, Ward 106 (Mulund)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹17,63,01,181
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹57,46,971
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Neil Somaiya – BJP, Ward 107 (Mulund)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹9,89,21,872
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹1,99,37,809
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Navi Mumbai Police Impose Traffic Restrictions Near D Y Patil Stadium During WPL 2026
Providing basic amenities to Mumbai is our priority, Samajwadi Party’s election manifesto released, Abu Asim Azmi claims to solve urban problems
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