India, April 25 -- The Union government on Friday defended the Waqf Amendment Act before the Supreme Court, arguing that the law does not violate any fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. In an affidavit filed by Shersha C Shaik Mohiddin, joint secretary in the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Centre opposed petitions challenging the law's constitutional validity.

The Centre explained that the amendments to the Waqf Act were meant to regulate the secular aspects of waqf property management and did not interfere with religious freedoms under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution. The law falls within the government's regulatory powers, it argued.

A waqf, under Islamic law, is an endowment for religious, educational, or ...