PTI, NEW DELHI, APRIL 6, 2025 : A fresh plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, claiming it was a “blatant intrusion” into the rights of a religious denomination to manage its own affairs in the matter of religion.
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was earlier passed by Parliament after heated debates in both Houses. Several petitions have been filed in the apex court challenging the validity of the Bill.
The fresh petition has been filed by Samastha Kerala Jamiathul Ulema, a religious organization of Sunni Muslim scholars and clerics in Kerala. The plea, filed through advocate Zulfiker Ali P S, said these amendments would distort the religious character of Waqfs while also irreversibly damaging the democratic process in the administration of Waqf and Waqf Boards.
The plea stated, “The 2025 Act is a blatant intrusion into the rights of a religious denomination to manage its own affairs in the matter of religion, which is protected under Article 26 of the Constitution of India.” It alleged that the 2025 Act was against the federal principles of the Constitution, as it takes away all powers of the state governments and State Waqf Boards in connection with Waqfs and accumulates all powers into the hands of the Union government.
“The cumulative effect of these provisions will be highly detrimental to Waqfs at large, and the Muslim community will be deprived of a large tract of Waqf properties on account of the operation of these provisions,” the plea said.
Several pleas, including those by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, and AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, were filed in the top court challenging the validity of the Bill. Besides them, an NGO, the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights, has also filed a petition in the apex court challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Jawed’s plea alleged that the Bill imposed “arbitrary restrictions” on Waqf properties and their management, undermining the Muslim community’s religious autonomy. The petition, filed through advocate Anas Tanwir, said the proposed law discriminated against the Muslim community by “imposing restrictions that are not present in the governance of other religious endowments.” The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favor and 95 opposing it. It was passed in the Lok Sabha with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.
Lok Sabha member from Bihar’s Kishanganj, Jawed, who was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Bill, has alleged in his plea that the Bill “introduces restrictions on degrees above the seasonal average,” MeT officials said. The forecast predicts that the maximum daytime temperature will frequently exceed 35 degrees Celsius, consistently bordering 40 degrees, and is likely to surpass 45 degrees in some areas. Nighttime temperatures are expected to remain in the range of 35 to 40 degrees Celsius.
“The possibility of rain that could provide any relief during these days over Uttar Pradesh remains below normal in the months of April, May, and June,” Singh added. Furthermore, an above-normal number of heatwave days are expected across the state. “During April 2025, an above-normal number of heatwave days are likely over most parts of Uttar Pradesh,” the forecast stated.
Medical professionals emphasize that heat waves pose a greater health risk than high temperatures alone. “High temperatures cause general discomfort, which can be managed by staying in the shade and consuming ample water. However, heatwave exposure disrupts the body’s natural temperature regulation, leading to severe dehydration and potential health complications,” explained Dr. Shantanu Mishra, a Lucknow-based general practitioner.
In response to the MeT department’s forecast, the state government has directed district administrations to implement mitigation measures. “District administrations have been alerted to the expected adverse hot weather and instructed to take measures to reduce its impact. Hospitals in the districts have also been asked to prepare for a surge in heat-related illnesses,” Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami said.
The Animal Husbandry Department is also taking proactive steps to protect livestock. “Cattle shelters across the state have been instructed to provide shaded areas and ample water for animals. Veterinary departments have been placed on high alert to assist farmers in rural areas whose livestock may be affected by the extreme conditions,” Animal Husbandry Minister Dharmpal Singh said.
