Rajasthan Congress MLA Rafeek Khan moves SC against Waqf Act

TNN / Updated: Apr 23, 2025, 09:53 IST

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Rajasthan MLA Rafeek Khan has approached the Supreme Court. He is challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Khan argues the legislation violates Muslim rights. He claims it interferes with religious governance. Several others have also filed petitions. These include Mohammad Jameel Merchant and Asaduddin Owaisi. They are challenging the Act. The petitioners allege discrimination against Muslim institutions.

Rajasthan Congress MLA Rafeek Khan moves SC against Waqf Act

The petition argues that mandating non-Muslim members in Waqf administrative bodies constitutes unreasonable interference in religious governance. Several others, including Mohammad Jameel Merchant and Asaduddin Owaisi, have also filed similar petitions against the Act.

JAIPUR: Congress MLA from Adarsh Nagar constituency, Rafeek Khan, who is also a member of the Waqf board in Rajasthan, Tuesday filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
The petition states that the new legislation violates Muslims' rights to equality under Articles 14, 15 and 19, right to practise and manage their religion and religious activities under Articles 25 and 26, and protection of rights of minorities under Article 29.
"We have said that by amending the structure of the Waqf Board and the Central Waqf Council, it has been made mandatory to include non-Muslim members in Waqf administrative bodies. Doing so is an unreasonable interference in religious governance. In contrast, other religious trusts are managed under various state acts and by other religions. This selective interference has been done without imposing similar conditions on other religious institutions" said Khan.
Earlier, Mumbai-based social activist Mohammad Jameel Merchant, Maulana Arshad Madani of Jamiatul Ulema-e-Hind, Mohammed Fazlurrahim, general secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Sheikh Noorul Hassan, MLA of Manipur National People's Party, and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi have all filed petitions before the Supreme Court challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Congress Member of Legislative Assembly from Adarsh Nagar constituency, Rafeek Khan, filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
The petition argues that the Waqf (Amendment) Act violates Muslims' constitutional rights to equality and religious practice by mandating non-Muslim members in Waqf administrative bodies.
Several prominent figures, including social activist Mohammad Jameel Merchant and Maulana Arshad Madani of Jamiatul Ulema-e-Hind, have also filed petitions against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the Supreme Court.

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