Hearing again in Supreme Court on many petitions challenging the Waqf Amendment Act, mentioning Khajuraho Temple
New Delhi
Many petitions challenging the Waqf Amendment Act have started again in the Supreme Court from today. The case was heard by former Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna, who handed over the case to the bench of the current CJI BR Gawai before his retirement. While favoring the petitioners, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said that the government wants to capture the assets of Waqf through this act. He said that Waqf means dedication to Allah. If someone gives his property in Waqf, then he is a donation to Allah in a way and it cannot be changed. Waqf's property cannot be transferred. Once the property that remains, it is always called Waqf. It is not possible to change it.
Calling the Waqf Act wrong, Kapil Sibal said, 'It has been brought saying that the Waqf will be protected, but it will be occupied by it. This law has been made in such a way that the property of Waqf can be taken without any procedure. Whether or not a property is Waqf or not. It will be a government official to decide. If he makes a decision here and there, then there may be a dispute over Waqf property. Let's talk now what is the Waqf. Waqf is a dedication to Allah. It cannot be transferred to anyone else. '
Why did Chief Justice Gavai mention Khajuraho temple
During the hearing of the case, Kapil Sibal also gave an argument about ancient sites. He said that there are some historical monuments, earlier when they were taken under the control of the government, their status of Waqf was not over. Now if any Waqf property gets the status of a memorial, then it will not be considered as Waqf. Then once the status of Waqf is finished, people will be stopped from praying. In this way the right to worship with freedom will be affected. On this, Chief Justice BR Gavai said that it is not that it will affect the right to worship by going into government control. He said that Khajuraho is currently a protected monument. Even after this, common people can go and worship in the temple there.