Describing the new Waqf law as “unconstitutional”, AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that its purpose is to “destroy” Waqf properties and he hoped to get justice from the Supreme Court in the matter.
In an interview with PTI videos on Saturday, he also surprised how the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) could be ‘uniform’ when there are many different laws for various issues.
The Hyderabad MP challenged those who appreciated the BJP and the Waqf (Amendment) Act to explain which streams are good in the new law.
Owaisi asked, “Tell me how this is a progressive law? Tell me a provision that saves Waqf’s property. Tell me a provision that increases the income of Waqf and a provision that removes the encroachers.”
Owaisi, who was a member of the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, alleged that the new law was designed to “destroy” Waqf.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief said, “You (from the previous law) removed the good provisions. Tell me that (in the new law) which streams are good … neither the government nor the people sitting in their support will be able to tell them.”
He further said that Dawoodi Bohra wanted him to be excluded from the purview of Waqf law.
Owaisi, who has challenged the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the Supreme Court and claimed that it violates the constitutional provisions, said, “We expect justice from the Supreme Court as it is an unconstitutional law.”
His remarks came at a time when the Supreme Court last week said that it would hear on the point of interim relief in challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
The bench of India’s Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Christ will hear arguments to pass interim instructions on three issues, including the power to non-defrooted assets declared by the courts, Waqf by the user or the Waqf declared by the user.
The second issue raised by the petitioners is related to the structure of the State Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council.
The third issue is related to the provision according to which when the collector will investigate to find out whether the property is government or not, the Waqf property will not be considered as Waqf. On the UCC, Owaisi surprised how it can be called ‘equal’, while there are many different laws for different issues.
Owaisi asked, “When you are leaving the tribals, leaving the Hindu Marriage Act and the Hindu Succession Act, how can it be the same? In our country, there is a special marriage act and Indian succession act (ISA). Will you follow Mitakshara or Daya Bhagava schools?”
Mitakshara and Day Bhag are two schools of Hindu law that deal with succession laws. The AIMIM chief said that India’s diversity needs to be understood, and said that “someone’s thoughts cannot be imposed on others”.
