New Delhi: The Congress on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s interim order on the Waqf Act and dubbed it as a victory for the “constitutional values of justice, equality, and fraternity” after the top court temporarily suspended specific provisions, including the clause requiring a person to be a practising Muslim for five years to create a Waqf.
In a post on X, Congress General Secretary and Communication incharge Jairam Ramesh said, “The Supreme Court’s order today on the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 represents a substantial victory not just for the parties that opposed this arbitrary law in Parliament but all those members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee who submitted detailed dissent notes which were then ignored but now stand vindicated.”
“The Order is an important one because it goes a long way towards undoing the mischievous intentions underlying the original statute.
Ramesh, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP said that counsels for the opposition parties had argued that the law would result in the creation of a structure where anyone and everyone could challenge the status of the property before the Collector, and the status of the property would be in limbo while in such litigation. Additionally, only a ‘Muslim’ practising for 5 years could donate to a Waqf.
“The intention behind these sections was always apparent – to keep the voter base inflamed and create an administrative structure to indulge those seeking to foment religious disputes. With this order, the Supreme Court has – stayed the powers of the Collector; protected existing Waqf properties from dubious challenges and; stayed the provision requiring proof of being a Muslim for 5 years until such times as rules are framed,” he said, adding, “We welcome this order as a win for the constitutional values of justice, equality, and fraternity.”
Even Congress Rajya Sabha MP and General Secretary Dr Syed Naseer Hussain in a post on X said, “I thank the Supreme Court of India for its interim order on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The Hon’ble Bench has reaffirmed the constitutional safeguards that protect minority rights and struck a balance between reform and representation.”
Hussain said that from the very beginning, “I on behalf of the Congress Party had cautioned the government repeatedly against including the 3 clauses that have been stayed today”.
“I had pointed out that giving the Collector unbridled powers to entertain challenges, making someone prove they are a Muslim for 5 years (as a precondition to declaring their own property as waqf), and skewing representation on the Waqf Board were wrong and constitutionally unsustainable. They undermined the autonomy of the Waqf Board and reduced the rights of the community, who are at the end of the day Indian citizens with the same constitutional and fundamental rights as anyone else. They also left the waqf properties vulnerable to constant challenge by mischievous elements. Today’s ruling vindicates our stand that any reform must be transparent, consultative, and faithful to the Constitution of India,” he said.
“The Congress Party remains committed to protecting the rights of minorities, upholding secular values, and ensuring that community institutions like the Waqf are managed with fairness, accountability, and respect for constitutional principles. Keeping in mind this is an interim order, we will continue our efforts to persuade the learned Bench of our arguments on the remaining clauses under challenge,” Hussain added.
Even Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi said welcomed the order and said that this is a really good decision but the fight will continue.
“The Supreme Court has reined in the conspiracy and intentions of the Government. People who donate their land were fearful that the government would attempt to grab their land.”
“This is a relief to them…How will the Government decide who has been a practising Muslim for 5 years? This is a matter of faith…Government took note of all these aspects…We will continue the fight,” he added.
The remarks from the Congress leaders came after the Supreme Court on Monday put on hold several key provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, including the clause that only those practising Islam for the last five years can dedicate a property as Waqf, but refused to stay the entire law.
The apex court also pressed pause on the powers given to a collector to adjudicate the status of Waqf properties and ruled on the contentious issue of non-Muslim participation in Waqf Boards, directing that the Central Waqf Council should not have more than four non-Muslim members out of 20, and State Waqf Boards not more than three of 11.
