Kumar Bahukhandi
Supreme Court – Photo: ANI
The Supreme Court refused to hear a new petition filed against the Waqf Act. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared on behalf of the Center, objected to the petition. On this, the court said that everyone wants their name in the newspaper. The court rejected the petition.
The Supreme Court on Friday May 16, 2025 refused to hear new petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf Act. The court said that everyone wants their name in the newspaper. A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih decided that it would hear the pending cases on May 20.
When the petitions came up for hearing in the court on Friday May 16, 2025 , Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared on behalf of the Center, objected. He said that the petitions challenging the law are not ending. Such petitions cannot be filed. On this, the petitioner’s lawyer said that he had filed the petition on April 8. On April 15, the defects pointed out by the Supreme Court registry were removed, but his petition was not listed for hearing.
On this, the Chief Justice said that everyone wants their name in the newspaper. When the petitioner’s lawyer requested the bench to include the petition with the pending petitions, the bench said that we will decide on this issue. The bench dismissed the petition. The bench said that if any other such petition comes up for hearing, it will be dismissed. When the petitioner’s lawyer sought permission to intervene in the pending petitions, the bench said that we already have many interveners.
On May 15, a bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Masih heard the petitions. The bench had said that it would hear arguments on May 20 for passing interim directions on three issues. These include the power of the courts to denotify properties declared as Waqf, Waqf by User or Waqf by deed.
In the hearing on April 17, 2025 the apex court had said that it would hear only five petitions. During this time, the bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Vishwanathan was assured by the Center that it will neither de-notify Waqf properties including Waqf by-users, nor make any appointment in the Central Waqf Council and Boards till May 5. The Center had also requested not to stop the law without hearing it.
