India, Sept. 15 -- The Supreme Court on Monday declined to stay the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in its entirety, though it put on hold some of its contentious provisions. Among those suspended are the provisions empowering district collectors to decide whether a property claimed as waqf actually belongs to the government, and the stipulation that only a lawful property owner who has been practising Islam for at least five years can create waqf through a formal deed.

The bench, which also comprised Justice AG Masih, held that the mandatory registration of waqf properties on a centralised portal cannot be interfered with. However, it suspended the provision authorising collectors to make a final determination on the nature of a property and...