India, Sept. 15 -- The Supreme Court on Monday declined to stay the entire Waqf Act, observing that laws carry a "presumption of constitutionality," but suspended the implementation of some contentious provisions.

A bench headed by Chief Justice B. R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih ruled that while a prima facie challenge to the law was raised, no grounds existed to halt the statute in its entirety. However, the court stayed the clause requiring individuals to have practised Islam for the last five years to be eligible to create a waqf.

The bench also stalled the provision empowering a government-designated officer to resolve disputes over whether waqf property encroaches on government land. "We have held presumption is always...