Apni Party Moves Supreme Court Against Controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act
New Delhi, April 10, 2025:
The Apni Party on Thursday filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the recently enacted and controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
The application, submitted on behalf of party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, raises serious concerns over the amendments made to the original Waqf Act, claiming they undermine minority rights and erode institutional autonomy.
According to an official statement, “The Apni Party has submitted an intervention application under Order 1 Rule 8A of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, before the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India and the companion Justices of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.”
The application argues that the Waqf (Amendment) Act significantly alters the governance structure of Waqf institutions in India. “The amendments redefine core concepts, dismantle the autonomy of Waqf institutions, and transfer adjudicatory powers from independent bodies to executive authorities,” the statement noted.
The party had earlier declared its intent to challenge the legislation. On April 7, a daylong meeting chaired by Altaf Bukhari was held to deliberate on the implications of the Act. The leadership unanimously resolved that the amendments pose a threat to the constitutional and minority rights of Muslims across the country.
Following the meeting, the party formally decided to move the Supreme Court, calling the law “unconstitutional and detrimental to the fabric of minority rights and religious freedom.”
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, has sparked widespread debate, with critics alleging that it centralizes power and strips minority communities of the right to manage their religious endowments independently. The matter is now before the Supreme Court for consideration.
