Pleas against Waqf Act: Centre files caveat in SC, hearing likely on Apr 15
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI): The Centre on Tuesday filed a caveat in the Supreme Court and sought a hearing before any order was passed on the pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
Caveat is filed by a party in the high courts and the apex court to ensure that no orders are passed without hearing it.
Over 10 petitions, including those by politicians and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, were filed in the top court challenging the validity of the newly-enacted law.
Lawyers privy to the development said the petitions were likely to be listed for hearing before a bench on April 15 though it is not reflected on the apex court website as of now.
On April 7, a bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna assured senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, to consider listing the petitions.
President Droupadi Murmu on April 5 gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed by Parliament after heated debates in both houses.
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Delhi: Medha Patkar released seven hours after arrest in 24-year-old defamation case
New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI): The Delhi Police released social activist Medha Patkar from its custody seven hours after her arrest on Friday in connection with a 24-year-old defamation case filed by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, officials said.
Earlier in the day, Patkar was arrested by the Delhi Police, two days after a city court issued a non-bailable warrant against her for not furnishing probation bonds in the case.
She was released at around 4:30 pm after she deposited a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh, which was accepted by the court in the matter of V K Saxena Vs Medha Patkar.
She will now be under the court's watch for a year and if there is any recalcitrant behaviour on her part, she will have to serve the five-month prison sentence.
A police team reached Patkar's residence in southeast Delhi's Nizamuddin area around 9:30 am and took her into custody, an official said.
"We have executed the NBW (non-bailable warrant) and Medha Patkar has been arrested," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Ravi Kumar Singh said.
The arrest came after Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh granted Patkar a one-year probation on April 8, observing that the offence did not merit imprisonment and citing her contributions as the leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and recipient of several awards.
According to the order, Patkar was directed to furnish probation bonds by April 23. However, with no compliance on record, the court issued the NBW against her.
