Tamil Nadu to delay Waqf Board reconstitution pending Supreme Court verdict: Minister
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Minister S. M. Nasar on Saturday announced that the state government will not reconstitute the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board under the amended Waqf Act until the Supreme Court delivers its final verdict.
Nasar said the Union government had brought in the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 1995—renamed as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995—which came into effect on April 8, 2025. The ruling DMK, he added, has opposed the legislation from the outset and has challenged it before the apex court.
“Several other stakeholders have also filed petitions against the new law. Considering these, the Supreme Court passed an interim order on September 15, staying certain provisions of the amended Act,” Nasar said, accusing the Union government of rushing the Bill through without proper consultation.
Reaffirming the DMK government’s stand, he said the administration is committed to safeguarding the rights and interests of the Muslim community, which has voiced concerns over the amendments.
Meanwhile, MMK president M. H. Jawahirulla urged the state government to ensure smooth functioning of the Waqf Board by immediately appointing a special officer and filling the post of assistant secretary, which has been vacant for nearly two years.
Earlier, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin declared that the DMK would continue to oppose the law in court, stressing, “This amendment is not just to be opposed but should be fully taken back.” Stalin also accused the BJP-led Union government of pursuing “ulterior motives” aimed at targeting a particular section of society.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), which is leading opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, welcomed the Tamil Nadu government’s decision not to form a new Waqf Board under the amended law. Calling the move “timely, appropriate, and courageous,” AIMPLB spokesperson Dr. SQR Ilyas praised Stalin’s administration for taking what he described as a “constitutionally sound” position.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly had in March adopted a resolution urging the Union government to withdraw the Bill, while the Kerala Legislative Assembly had passed a similar resolution in October 2024.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which received presidential assent on April 5, has faced widespread protests and multiple legal challenges. Critics argue that the law undermines Muslim religious autonomy and property rights by expanding government control over waqf properties.
Recently, a Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice B. R. Gavai and Justice A. G. Masih partially stayed provisions of the Act. These included the five-year continuous practice requirement to create a waqf and the clause empowering government officials to adjudicate waqf property disputes, which the Court directed must be heard by Waqf Tribunals instead.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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