Overview

• The Supreme Court will examine over 70 petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, on April 16.
• Union Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the amendments, emphasizing they aim to correct past mismanagement and prevent arbitrary land declarations as Waqf properties.
• Protests against the Act have intensified, with significant violence reported in West Bengal, including three deaths and property damage in Murshidabad.
• Opposition parties and Muslim organizations argue the law undermines minority rights and religious autonomy, while BJP-ruled states support it as a step toward transparency.
• India rejected Pakistan's criticism of the Act, asserting it is an internal matter and highlighting Pakistan's poor record on minority rights.