"Satisfied": AAP's Amanatullah Khan after Centre assures SC no Waqf properties will be de-notified

New Delhi [India], April 17 (ANI): After Centre assured Supreme Court that no Waqf properties will be de-notified, no appointment of non-Muslims to Boards for now, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Waqf Board chairman Amanatullah Khan expressed satisfaction over the decision.
The AAP leader thanked the apex court, judges and advocates and said that AAP is satisfied with the decision as the central government said in the court that properties under Waqf-by-user will continue to be there with Waqf.
"I am thankful to the Supreme Court, judges, and advocates who rose above religion and helped us in protecting our country. We are satisfied with the decision as the central government said in the court that properties under Waqf-by-user will continue to be there with Waqf, and there will be no interference in the members of the Waqf board," he told ANI.
"The central government will reply in 7 days. How a DM can be above the court - that provision (from the Act) will certainly be removed. The Waqf board will continue to be there as it is...," Khan further said.
The Centre on Thursday assured the Supreme Court that key provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, including the inclusion of non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards and provisions on de-notifying Waqf properties will not be given effect to for some time.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan recorded the assurance given by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Centre, to the apex court that till the next date of hearing, Wakf, including 'Waqf by user', which is declared by notification or registered, will not be de-notified.
Further, the Solicitor General gave an assurance that no appointments will be made to the Waqf Council or Waqf boards.
The Centre also sought time to file response on petitions challenging constitutional validity of Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The bench granted a week's time to Centre to file a response and petitioners can file their rejoinder within five days after that.
It has now posted the matter for hearing in the week commencing May 5. "The hearing on the next date will only be for directions and interim orders if any," the bench added.
President Droupadi Murmu on April 5 gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was earlier passed by Parliament after heated debates in both Houses. (ANI)