Kashmir-based parties, NC and PDP to challenge validity of Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in Supreme Court

NC, PDP to move SC against Waqf Act

After the majority of legislators belonging to the Kashmir-based mainstream political parties failed to register their sentiments against the passing of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 during the budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, both National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party have now decided to approach the Apex court challenging the validity of the Act.

Interestingly, the ruling party legislators pleaded for three consecutive days in front of the speaker of the house to admit their adjournment motion and allow them to share their sentiments against the passing of the Waqf (Amendment) bill by the Parliament, but in vain.

The speaker of the house, Abdul Rahim Rather, stood his ground and disallowed the adjournment motion, saying the matter was sub judice.

Even the Chief Minister, who remained absent from the house, faced criticism from the opposition benches as the ruling party came across as a divided house, especially after Omar was seen rolling out a red-carpet welcome for the Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, the man who introduced the bill in the Parliament.

Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party Chief Mehbooba Mufti, Chairman of the Peoples Conference Sajad Lone, exposed his double speak on the sensitive matter.

Inside the Legislative Assembly, PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para said the Muslims of J&K have been “reduced to props” in the government’s “political theatre”- useful on stage but far too inconvenient to represent when real decisions are to be made.

The Pulwama MLA said the NC has rolled out a red carpet at the Tulip garden for the Union minister, who introduced and defended the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament.

After the house was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, Para launched a fresh offensive against the Omar Abdullah-led alliance government.

Para in a post on X claimed, “J&K Assembly’s rejection of the resolution against the Waqf Amendment Act, despite 70% Muslim MLAs, and the denial of Ulema meetings led by the Mirwaiz Sahab in Srinagar, reveals a deliberate attempt to silence opposition against the Waqf Amendment Act. Normalisation process”.

On its part, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also came out all guns firing while defending himself and his chance meeting with the Union Minister in the Tulip garden.

In his remarks, Abdullah clarified, “It is right that two days ago, I took my father to the Tulip garden. It is a coincidence that a Union minister was present there at the moment. We greeted each other. He wanted to get a picture with me, how could I refuse”?

Dismissing the criticism as politically motivated, he added, “Now, those who gave the BJP an entry into J&K are trying to use that against me. Those who have not apologised to the people of J&K for what happened in 2016 should first take a look at their actions and the price J&K had to pay for their alliance with the BJP.”

“The chief minister’s actions not only deepened the sense of alienation and helplessness within the Muslim community but also lent legitimacy to this unilateral decision widely perceived as dismissive of their interests,” Mehbooba said, urging the assembly to pass a resolution rejecting the bill.

“The drama created by the ruling party in the Assembly from the last three days, and what we saw in the Tulip garden, is shameful. The BJP is attacking the Muslims of the country left, right, and center. By welcoming and entertaining Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, the CM has sent a message to all Muslims of the country that the J&K government supports the Waqf Amendment,” Mufti said.

Joining the chorus with the PDP Chief, People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone said Abdullah should have distanced himself from Rijiju as a symbolic protest. “There was no need to meet him. It sends a very wrong message,” Lone said.

NC-PDP to approach the Apex Court on Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025

On Wednesday, the National Conference Spokesman Tanvir Sadiq told reporters outside the Assembly, on the direction of our President Farooq Abdullah, that the National Conference has decided to file a writ petition in the Supreme Court. This legal battle will now be fought there. We believe this act represents a constitutionally alarming interference in the religious affairs of the Muslim community. It violates fundamental constitutional protections under articles 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, 29, and 300A, and it is a direct attack on the religious freedom, equality, and property rights of Muslims across the country…”

“We believe that this amendment is against Muslims. Whatever opposition we had to do, we tried to do it in the last three days,” its chief spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said, accompanied by several legislators. Now, we will take this fight forward. NC will submit a petition to the Supreme Court. We will fight this fight there now,” he said.

The announcement came barely an hour after PDP president Mehbooba Mufti announced that her party will also challenge the Waqf Act in the apex court while taking on the NC for not allowing a discussion in the House.

“In the coming day or two, we will challenge the amendment brought to the Waqf Bill in the Supreme Court,” she said.

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