Waqf religious aspects left untouched: Centre

NEW DELHI: Opposing any stay on fully operationalising the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, the Centre, in its written submissions before Supreme Court , said Tuesday that the legislation did not impinge upon any religious aspect of waqf and merely attempted to regulate its secular activities relating to management of waqf properties.

The submissions, which will be formulated into arguments by solicitor general Tushar Mehta, said the challenge to the validity of the new law was because the petitioners had confused the creation of waqf and property regulations associated with waqf with religious rights under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.


It said since the fundamental purpose of the Waqf Act was to confer statutory validity upon dedications while imposing certain duties and responsibilities, it was always open to Parliament to alter the framework which conferred statutory validity to such dedications.

"The Waqf Act, including the amendments, do not touch any religious aspects of waqf, such as functions of the 'sajjadanashin' or any other essential religious practices of Muslims in general," the Centre said.