Waqf Amendment Act 2025: ‘Don’t interrupt’, why did CJI Sanjiv Khanna say this to Kapil Sibal?

On Thursday (April 17, 2025), the Supreme Court bench sat for hearing on the petitions filed regarding the Waqf Amendment Act. The court has not stayed the law, but has directed to maintain the status quo for a week. While delivering the verdict, petitioner’s lawyer Kapil Sibal spoke in the middle, then Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna interrupted him and said do not speak in the middle.

CJI Sanjeev Khanna, while delivering the verdict, said, ‘Waqf declared property and registered property should be allowed to remain as before.’ During this, Kapil Sibal said that also write Waqf by user. Interrupting him, the CJI said, ‘I am getting the order written. Do not speak in the middle.’ He said, ‘Solicitor Mehta said that the government wants to file a reply in 7 days. He also said that till then there will be no appointment in the board or council.’

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared on behalf of the Center, told the court that he is going to ban the Act passed by the Parliament. It would not be right to ban the Act by looking at some sections of the Act. He said that the law has been made after talking to lakhs of people, so the government is accountable to the people. SG Mehta has asked the court for a week’s time to respond, to which the CJI granted permission. He said that he is not doing legal work right now. Nothing will change in 1 week.

The CJI told the Center that he will listen to it, but he does not want a major change in the situation, so it is okay for the situation to remain as it was for now. The court has also banned new appointments in the Waqf Board or Council. CJI Sanjeev Khanna also asked SG Tushar Mehta whether action will not be taken on the property registered under the 1995 Act? On this, the SG said that this is part of the law.

The court has also said that there should be only 5 petitions from the petitioner side. It is not possible to hear all of them, so take a decision on this in one day. The CJI said that the remaining petitions will be considered disposed of. No one’s name will be written in the further listing of the petitions. Also give a list of the lawyers who will cross-examine.