New Delhi: On the second day of hearing on petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, the Union government on Thursday (April 17) assured the Supreme Court that no waqf properties will be denotified until the next date of hearing, scheduled for May 5. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, also assured the top court that, for the time being, it will not act upon the controversial provisions of the amended act, such as inclusion of non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf boards.The hearing comes in response to several opposition leaders, NGOs and activists criticising the amended act as a violation of Article 26 of the constitution, which guarantees the freedom to manage religious affairs of citizens. The swift passage of the act in parliament and its implementation has also led to violence in several states, including West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.A three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan is hearing the case.During the hearing today, SG Mehta urged the court not to impose any stay. “This is a harsh step. Please give me a week to file a preliminary reply with some documents. This is not a matter which can be considered like this,” the SG stated, as quoted by Bar and Bench.CJI Khanna replied saying while there were some positives to the act, the status quo cannot be disturbed.“We had said there were some positive things in the law. We have stated that there cannot be a complete stay. But we also don’t want the situation to change which is prevailing now… some provisions…when matter is pending before the court we have to ensure that the situation as it exists now is not disturbed,” the CJI said.The apex court granted the government seven days to file its response to the request of stay on the amended provisions of the act. Petitioners have been allowed to file their rejoinder within five days after that.Recording SG Mehta assurance, the bench noted, “During the course of hearing, SG Mehta states that the respondents would like to file a short reply within 7 days and assured that till next date no appointment shall take place to board and councils under 2025 Act. He also assures that waqfs including waqf by user already declared by notification or gazetted, their status shall not be changed.” In yesterday’s hearing, the top court came down heavily on the Union government asking if it was willing to allow Muslims on Hindu endowment boards the way it is seeking non-Muslims on Waqf boards.The court had proposed an interim judgement. The CJI suggested that properties declared by court to be waqf will not be denotified or be treated as non waqf, whether it is waqf by user or not; collector can continue with proceedings but the provision will not be given effect to; and that ex officio members can be appointed for Waqf Boards and Council but the other members have to be Muslims.The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 5.