New Delhi, May 6 -- The Supreme Court on Monday said the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 will be taken up by a bench headed by next chief justice of India (CJI) Justice Bhushan R Gavai on May 15, as the bench headed by incumbent CJI Sanjiv Khanna cited its inability to pass even an interim order due to his impending retirement on May 13. As soon as a bench comprising CJI Khanna and justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan assembled for the hearing, the CJI said: "I do not want to reserve any judgment or order at this interim stage. This matter will have to be heard on a reasonably early date and this will not be before me." The matter will now be listed before a bench headed by justice Gavai on May 15, a day after he takes oath as CJI on May 14. CJI Khanna will be demitting office on May 13. Commenting on an affidavit filed by the Centre opposing any "blanket stay" by court on the Waqf law and responses by petitioners questioning the affidavit, the bench said, "You (Centre) have raised valid points on registration of Waqf (essentially an endowment) and given some figures also which have been disputed by petitioners. There are certain aspects that we have dealt with but we need clarifications." The bench noted this exercise would become futile in view of the limited working days CJI Khanna has in office. "We will post it before the bench of justice Gavai for hearing on the interim and final order. I want to give him time to go through these documents," CJI Khanna said. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for some Muslim petitioners, reminded the court that till the next date of hearing, the assurances given by Centre should continue. "The court has got a quick way of getting rid of all of us," senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also appearing for some petitioners, remarked in a lighter vein. On April 17, the Union government assured the top court that it would neither denotify waqf properties, including "waqf by user" (where there is no documentation of the endowment, but the property has been used for religious or charitable purposes for a long time), nor make any appointments to the central waqf council and boards till May 5. "We would have loved to pursue your lordship (the CJI) as every contention has an answer. We cannot embarrass you because there is no time," solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said. "It's painful for us to remind your lordship (about the retirement)." To this, CJI Khanna said he was "looking forward to it"....