Muslim petitioners at the Supreme Court lawn during hearing on pleas challenging the Waqf Act amendments, in New Delhi, Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

The Centre on Wednesday defended the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in the Supreme Court and said though waqf was an Islamic concept, it was not an essential part of Islam. 

Waqf (Amendment) Act hearing LIVE | May 21, 2025

Responding to the challenge against the validity of the 2025 law, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued the amended law dealt with the secular aspects of waqf and activities that were non-essential to Islam. Mr. Mehta said the “waqf by user” concept did not permit “wholesale takeover of waqf properties” by the state as alleged. Waqf by user is not a fundamental right, it is a creature of statute, and what the legislature creates, it can also take away,” he said. 

The hearing would continue on today. 

Follow LIVE updates here