Mumbai Apr 20(UNI) A Mumbai-based social activist Mohammad Jameel Merchant, known to take up public causes, is among the five petitioners, who would be heard in the Supreme Court, which is hearing a legal challenge to the recently passed and enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act.
The five petitions that would be heard by the Supreme Court are: Maulana Arshad Madani v. Union of India, Mohammad Jameel Merchant v. Union of India, Mohammed Fazlurrahim & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors- Fazlurrahim is the General Secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Sheikh Noorul Hassan v. The Union of India & Ors. - Manipur National People’s Party MLA and Asaduddin Owaisi v. Union of India.
Madani is an Islamic scholar and the President of Jamiatul ulama Hind an apex body of the muslim community. Merchant is a social worker.
Fazlurrahim is the General Secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
Hassan is Manipur National People’s Party MLA. Owaisi, a veteran Parliamentarian, is the President of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Lok Sabha Member representing Hyderabad.
Incidentally, Marchant is the only petitioner from Maharashtra.
“I am the lucky and honoured as I will represent Indian Muslims in the Supreme Court among other important personalities of the community which include Owaisi and others,” he said reacting to the development.
Merchant has earlier filed pleas against Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader Nitish Rane for his hate speech and against Ram Giri Maharaj for his derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohamed.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 has replaced the Waqf Act, 1995 as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995.
“The new Act introduces representation of non-Muslim people in the Waqf boards. The bill also says that any government property identified as waqf will cease to be so. The bill removes the provision empowering the Waqf Board to inquire and determine if a property is waqf. The Act also allows the central government to make rules regarding registration, publication of accounts of waqf, and publication of proceedings of waqf boards. The Centre can also order an audit of the accounts of waqfs by the CAG or a designated officer,” he said.
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