New CJI BR Gavai-led bench to resume hearing pleas against Waqf Amendment Act today

Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai-led bench would resume hearing on pleas challenging the contentious amended Waqf law on Thursday. The top court had raised questions regarding the constitutionality of several provisions of the amended act. 

 

 

A bench comprising Chief Justice Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih will resume hearing the matter on Thursday. A bunch of pleas were moved against the law by various Muslim bodies and opposition parties, including Congress, DMK, AIMIM and several others, demanding that the apex court strike down the law passed by the Parliament.

 

The matter was being heard by a bench led by former Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and it was posted for further hearing on Thursday, considering he would demit office on May 13. While the nbench considered passing an interim order staying contentious provisions of the law, the Centre provided assurance regarding denotifying waqf properties, including "waqf by user", or making appointments in the central waqf council and boards till May 5.

 

During the hearing, the top court questioned the denotification of waqf properties, including "waqf by user", and the appointment of non-Muslims in the central waqf councils and boards. The Centre filed a preliminary 1,332-page affidavit on April 25 defending the amended act and opposed any blanket stay on the law. The Union minority affairs ministry urged the top court to dismiss the pleas and said a "mischievous false narrative" was being made around certain provisions.

 

The Centre claimed there has been a "shocking increase" of 116 per cent in the waqf properties since 2013. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has accused the Centre of submitting incorrect data in the top court and sought action against the officer concerned for filing a "false affidavit".

India