Actor-politician Vijay moves Supreme Court against new Waqf Act

TVK chief and actor Vijay. (File photo/ANI)

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay has filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the new Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025.

His petition is among the several others filed in the apex court challenging the Act. These pleas contend that the law is discriminatory towards the Muslim community and violates their fundamental rights.

Among those who have moved the court against the Waqf Act so far are All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress MPs Mohammad Jawed and Imran Pratapgarhi, AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, and Azad Samaj Party chief and MP Chandra Shekhar Azad.

Others include Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal Zia Ur Rehman Barq; Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind; the Kerala-based Sunni scholars' body Samastha Kerala Jamiatul Ulema; the Social Democratic Party of India; the Indian Union Muslim League; and the NGO Association for Protection of Civil Rights.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 on April 4 with 128 votes in favour and 95 against. The Lok Sabha had earlier cleared the Bill following a marathon debate, with 288 members voting in favour and 232 opposing it.

President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Bill on April 5, making it a law.

Tamil Nadu's ruling party DMK has also joined the legal challenge. Its MP A Raja, who was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Bill, has approached the apex court.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, seeks to focus on improving the management of waqf properties, empowering relevant stakeholders, improving the efficiency of survey, registration, and case disposal processes and developing waqf properties.