Jaipur: In a significant legal move, the Bhajan Lal Government in Rajasthan has approached the Supreme Court seeking to implead itself as a party in the ongoing batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The said petitions, including one filed by MP Asaduddin Owaisi are listed for hearing on Wednesday, April 16.
Additional Advocate General Shiv Mangal Sharma, who has also drawn and settled the intervention application before the Supreme Court said that the Rajasthan Government, in its application, asserts that it has a direct, substantial, and legally protectable interest in the matter, being the primary executive authority responsible for the administration and regulation of Waqf properties within the State. The intervention seeks to present the legislative intent, constitutional justification, and administrative realities behind the Amendment Act, 2025, which was passed after extensive national consultations.*
The application defends the Amendment Act as a transparent and constitutionally sound reform aimed at curbing arbitrary inclusion of government and private land as Waqf property, a practice that has, in several instances, paralyzed public development and infrastructure projects.
The Rajasthan Government has prayed for permission to file a detailed affidavit in the matter and assist the Court with comparative legal perspectives and empirical data, asserting that its role is vital for the Court to arrive at a balanced and informed adjudication.
Notably, there are 19044 Waqf properties in the state which generats just Rs 2-3 crore of revenue every year.
