Overview

• The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 officially came into effect on April 8 following a government notification, introducing significant reforms to waqf property management.
• Over 15 petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court, including by political parties like DMK and IUML, and prominent Muslim organizations, challenging the Act's constitutionality.
• Key provisions under scrutiny include the requirement for a waqif to have practiced Islam for at least five years and restrictions on oral waqfs, which critics argue infringe on religious autonomy.
• The Centre has filed caveats in the Supreme Court to ensure its stance is heard before any interim orders are issued; hearings are scheduled for April 15.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia have defended the Act as a historic reform aimed at transparency and social justice, while opposition groups criticize it as discriminatory.