Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s judgment on the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025.

“Reforms such as digitisation, transparency, welfare delivery, and development of properties can and should continue. These measures are essential for ensuring that waqf income is used effectively for education, health, and upliftment of the community,” he added.

Mr. Rijiju stressed that the Ministry will fully comply with the court’s directions, and continue to work closely with State Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council to implement reforms in a transparent, participatory, and constitutionally compliant manner.

The SC on Monday declined to stay the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, entirely but put on hold several key provisions of the Act, including the clause that only those practising Islam for the last five years can dedicate their property as Waqf. The top court also declined to keep the implementation of the provision, which mandated that a waqf property under dispute and subject to an enquiry by a designated officer of the government, would lose its status and character of a waqf asset until the official submitted a report. The court also said that waqf councils will not have more than four non-Muslim members out of a total 20.