No one can stop implementation of laws passed in Parliament”: Waqf Chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi on Waqf Act

Anantnag, April 17 : Amid ongoing Supreme Court hearings on petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, BJP leader and Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, Darakhshan Andrabi, on Thursday said that laws passed by Parliament cannot be stopped from being implemented.

, “In our democracy, the doors of the Supreme Court are open for everyone. No one can stop the implementation of laws passed by Parliament, but people have the right to seek redress through the court.” Andrabi told the media in Anantnag,

She, however, acknowledged the authority of the judiciary, saying , “The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is vast. It is the highest authority, and we will comment only after the full order is released.”

The Supreme Court is currently hearing multiple petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

On Wednesday, a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan indicated that it may issue an interim stay on certain provisions of the Act.

These include; the inclusion of non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards, expanded powers granted to district collectors in disputes over Waqf properties and provisions allowing the de-notification of properties already declared as Waqf by courts.

The bench also raised concerns over reports of violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district and questioned the government on the disallowance of "Waqf-by-user," noting that many traditional Waqfs may lack formal documentation for registration.

Defending the amendment, Andrabi claimed that the bill enjoys wide support among ordinary citizens and religious figures.

“People who offer Namaz, the Khateebs, Imams, and devotees visiting shrines have no objections to the bill. The only ones protesting are politicians who have nothing to do with religion but benefited from the misuse of Waqf properties for years,” she said.

Andrabi further said that the Waqf institution is now in "safe hands" and that significant reforms have been made over the past three years to bring accountability. “Numerous encroached properties of mosques and shrines have been reclaimed,” she said.

Earlier in the day, the BJP unit in Anantnag celebrated the legacy and contributions of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar- the founder of Indian constitution

Speaking at the event, Andrabi said, “Baba Saheb gave India its Constitution, and it is the BJP that is truly fulfilling the spirit of that Constitution.”

She also criticized the opposition, saying, “The Congress and its allies have been shouting for the past eleven years that the Constitution is under threat. But in reality, Prime Minister Modi has strengthened the constitutional spirit in India.”