New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday reaffirmed that the Waqf (Amendment) Act is an internal matter of India, emphasizing that the amendments are designed to be more progressive and inclusive, benefiting the intended beneficiaries.
During the weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “All the elements of the Waqf bill are an internal matter of India. The Waqf Amendment bill proposes several inclusive policies to make the Amendment bill more inclusive, more progressive, and so that there are greater benefits to the intended beneficiaries.”
The comments come amidst ongoing hearings in the Supreme Court, where petitions have been filed challenging the Waqf Act. On Thursday, the court recorded the Centre’s request for additional time to file its response. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, assured the court that a preliminary reply would be submitted within seven days, accompanied by supporting documents.
In a significant development, the court also took note of Mehta’s assurance that no new appointments to the Waqf Board or Council would be made until the next hearing. Furthermore, the court specified that Waqf properties that have already been registered or notified will not be re-identified during this period.
The Solicitor General emphasized that the Waqf Act is a “considered piece of legislation,” acknowledging that the Centre has received numerous representations regarding the classification of land as Waqf. He cautioned that staying the entire Act would be a drastic step and requested one week to file the government’s response.
The Supreme Court, while recognizing some positive aspects of the legislation, made it clear that a complete stay on the Act at this stage was not feasible. The court also noted that it did not want any changes to the current situation while the matter is under consideration.
