Congress to Move Supreme Court Against Waqf Amendment Bill: Jairam Ramesh
The Congress party has announced its decision to challenge the constitutionality of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Supreme Court. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh made the announcement on Friday, asserting that the party will resist what it perceives as an attack on constitutional principles by the Modi government.
“The INC will very soon be challenging in the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the Wakf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. We are confident and will continue to resist all assaults of the Modi Govt on the principles, provisions, and practices that are contained in the Constitution of India,” Ramesh stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Ramesh pointed out that the Congress party is already involved in multiple legal challenges against the government’s decisions. These include the 2019 amendments to the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules (2024), and an intervention to uphold the Places of Worship Act, 1991. All these matters are currently being heard by the Supreme Court.
The decision to approach the judiciary comes shortly after the Rajya Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, following its approval in the Lok Sabha. The Bill, which has faced strong opposition from various political parties, seeks to introduce changes in the governance and management of waqf properties.
Shortly after the Bill was passed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the development as a “watershed moment” in India’s pursuit of socio-economic justice, transparency, and inclusive growth.
In a series of posts on X, Modi claimed that the waqf system had long suffered from a lack of accountability, which particularly impacted poor Muslims, Muslim women, and Pasmanda Muslims.
“The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth,” the Prime Minister wrote.
Opposition leaders have voiced concerns that the Bill is aimed at restricting the rights of the Muslim community. They argue that the amendments were introduced without adequate consultation and could have far-reaching implications for waqf properties across India.
The Congress has remained vocal in its opposition to the Bill, with leaders from various opposition parties, including the TMC, DMK, AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Left, expressing similar concerns.
With the Congress party preparing to take the legal route, the matter is likely to escalate into a major legal and political battle. The Supreme Court’s decision on this petition could set an important precedent regarding the government’s approach to religious and constitutional rights.
The ruling BJP, meanwhile, has maintained that the amendments are necessary for greater transparency and efficiency in waqf management. As the legal proceedings unfold, the debate over the Bill’s implications is set to continue in both political and legal circles.
