Sheikh Noorul Hassan, Manipur MLA from the Kshetrigao constituency and the leader of the National People’s Party India (NPP) in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, approached the Supreme Court challenging the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025.
Notably, NPP is an ally of the BJP as a member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The petitioner in the plea has raised a concern over the amendment depriving Scheduled Tribes (STs) practicing Islam from giving their property in Waqf. This violates their fundamental right to practice their religion, he contends.
Section 3E of the 2025 Act bars land owned by Scheduled Tribe members (under the Fifth or Sixth Schedule) from being declared waqf property.
Notably, the impugned Act was given Presidential Assent on April 5 after the Parliament passed it on April 4 with hours of discussion.
