New Delhi, April 17 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed its concerns over the newly enacted Waqf law, questioning three aspects of the statute - the status of "waqf by user" properties declared so under earlier court orders, the majority presence of non-Muslim members in the Waqf Council and Waqf Boards and disallowing a property from operating as waqf property if it is disputed as a government plot.

The bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna said it was inclined to pass an interim order pausing the operation of the law on these aspects, but agreed to give the Centre and states an opportunity on Thursday, when the case is due to be heard next.

In its first examination of the law, which is under challenge in a...