The Supreme Court on Monday directed that “so far as possible, the Chief Executive Officer of the Waqf Board should be a Muslim,” while refusing to stay the 2025 amendment permitting the appointment of a non-Muslim as CEO.
A bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih pronounced its interim order on pleas challenging the constitutionality of the Waqf Amendment Act 2025. The petitions had argued that the sweeping changes to the Waqf law were unconstitutional.
The order was reserved on May 22 after three days of hearings, and comes amid rising debate on the scope of religious representation in Waqf institutions.
