{"id":11381,"date":"2025-04-19T21:58:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-19T16:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bynewsindia.com\/?p=11381"},"modified":"2025-07-31T09:27:27","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T09:27:27","slug":"waqf-law-govt-pulls-back-in-sc-game-plan-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/?p=11381","title":{"rendered":"Waqf Law U-Turn: Govt Pulls Back in Court \u2014 But Is This a Strategic Pause Before a Bigger Political Push?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Waqf Law Update: <\/strong>The ongoing debate around the <a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=152139&amp;ModuleId=3&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=1\">Waqf law <\/a>has now taken a dramatic new turn. The Central Government, while appearing to step back in the Supreme Court, may actually be playing a deeper political game. Is this a defeat or a calculated political move?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the amended Waqf law was challenged in the Supreme Court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, made it clear right at the beginning of the hearing that the government was not seeking any interim relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#three-major-declarations-by-the-government\">Three Major Declarations by the Government:<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#petitioners-express-satisfaction\">Opposition Celebrates, But What&#8217;s the Reality?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#but-the-government-views-it-differently\">But the Government Views It Differently&#8230;<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#whats-the-governments-next-move\">What\u2019s the Government\u2019s Next Move?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#does-timing-matter-too\">Does Timing Matter Too?<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#\ud83d\udd2e-what-comes-next\">What Comes Next?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#\ud83e\uddfe-key-takeaways\">Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#behind-the-scenes-a-caa-style-strategy\">Behind the Scenes: A CAA-style Strategy?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#one-step-back-two-steps-forward\">One Step Back, Two Steps Forward?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna remarked \u2014 when a matter is sub-judice, no changes should be made to the prevailing situation. That one sentence made the Court\u2019s stance clear. The government sensed the direction immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following this, the government made three major statements in court:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"three-major-declarations-by-the-government\"><strong>Three Major Declarations by the Government:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There will be no changes to the Waqf law for the next one week.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Properties claimed under &#8220;Waqf by user&#8221; \u2014 whether registered or not \u2014 will be considered valid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>State governments will not form any new Waqf Boards or Councils during this period.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"petitioners-express-satisfaction\"><strong>Opposition Celebrates, But What&#8217;s the Reality?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As soon as these statements were recorded in court, the Opposition projected it as a major win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Asaduddin Owaisi<\/strong> said \u2014 this is a &#8220;voluntary withdrawal&#8221; by the government, but in effect, it acts like a stay.<br>AAP leader <strong>Amanatullah Khan<\/strong> stated \u2014 this marks a defeat for BJP\u2019s \u201cdivide and rule\u201d politics.<br>Senior advocates <strong>Kapil Sibal<\/strong> and <strong>Abhishek Manu Singhvi <\/strong>also described the court\u2019s approach as balanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"but-the-government-views-it-differently\"><strong>But the Government Views It Differently&#8230;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The government is not treating this as a defeat. Instead, it is being seen as an \u201chonourable retreat.\u201d The concern was that if the Supreme Court had issued a direct stay, it would have dealt a serious blow to one of the major initiatives of Modi government\u2019s third term. Recognizing the Court\u2019s stance, the government chose to step back strategically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"whats-the-governments-next-move\"><strong>What\u2019s the Government\u2019s Next Move?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The government is set to submit a written reply in the Supreme Court on May 5. It will argue that provisions like &#8220;Waqf by user&#8221; are riddled with loopholes. Therefore, a new law is necessary. The government will also submit evidence \u2014 such as a case where Waqf was claimed on land belonging to the Delhi High Court. Even the Court has acknowledged misuse of this law in some instances. So, the government hopes the Court will see merit in its position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Court will examine the specific points where irregularities have been flagged. Rule changes or amendments are possible. The battle between \u201creform versus discrimination\u201d will intensify politically. BJP is expected to shape the narrative around \u201cjustice on land\u201d and \u201creligious balance\u201d in its favour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"does-timing-matter-too\"><strong>Does Timing Matter Too?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hearing Before CJI&#8217;s Retirement:<\/strong><br>The timing of the hearing is significant. When the government replies on May 5, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna will be just eight days away from retirement. Justice B.R. Gavai is set to take over as the next Chief Justice. This means the bench may change in the next hearing, which could influence the direction of the case. However, the Court remains independent and impartial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"\ud83d\udd2e-what-comes-next\"><strong>What Comes Next?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what we can expect in the coming weeks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>May 5<\/strong>: Government files its detailed reply in SC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Legal scrutiny<\/strong> begins on the core clauses\u2014especially around &#8216;Waqf by User.&#8217;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Potential amendments<\/strong> or rule changes may be suggested based on SC feedback.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Narrative battles<\/strong> will intensify\u2014between \u201creform vs discrimination\u201d in political discourse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>BJP&#8217;s communication machinery<\/strong> may shift toward \u201cland justice\u201d and \u201cinstitutional transparency\u201d as counterpoints to religious framing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"\ud83e\uddfe-key-takeaways\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Issue<\/th><th>Status\/Update<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Waqf Law in SC<\/td><td>Under challenge; court urged to maintain status quo<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Govt\u2019s Assurances<\/td><td>No changes for a week; no new boards; user-based Waqf stays valid temporarily<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Opposition Reaction<\/td><td>Termed it a \u2018silent stay\u2019 and claimed political victory<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Govt\u2019s View<\/td><td>Strategic pullback to avoid legal defeat and buy time<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>May 5 Importance<\/td><td>Govt\u2019s official reply due; just before CJI Sanjeev Khanna\u2019s retirement<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Long-Term Strategy<\/td><td>Possibly CAA-style delay; reintroduce after narrative control improves<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"behind-the-scenes-a-caa-style-strategy\"><strong>Behind the Scenes: A CAA-style Strategy?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Government strategists believe this is a repeat of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) playbook. First, calm the public mood. Let the protests subside. Then implement the law \u2014 at a time and pace that suits the government. This allows the government to safeguard both legal and political interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The government was aware that a direct stay from the Court would have done more damage. Hence, it opted for a more graceful path. Also, the law hasn\u2019t been implemented yet. That\u2019s crucial \u2014 the Waqf law currently only exists on paper. It becomes enforceable only when its rules are framed. Those rules \u2014 or &#8220;implementation guidelines&#8221; \u2014 are yet to be drafted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The government still has ample time. It can introduce rules four months later, or even after two years. The same approach was taken with the CAA. The law remained dormant for four years, only to be activated later when the situation was more favourable. It is believed the same model is being applied to the Waqf law as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This appears to be part of a long-term strategy \u2014 defuse the opposition now, implement the law later. A timing will likely be chosen when the Opposition is distracted and public attention is elsewhere. Precisely the same formula used for the Citizenship Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"one-step-back-two-steps-forward\"><strong>One Step Back, Two Steps Forward?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The real question isn\u2019t \u201cwhy did the government retreat,\u201d but rather \u2014 \u201cwhat\u2019s the next move?\u201d The position taken in the Supreme Court is not a defeat, but a <em>strategic pause<\/em> \u2014 a breather to let tempers cool and to prepare the ground for future implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is part of \u201cpolitical management\u201d \u2014 where delaying confrontation is sometimes a smarter tactic than direct conflict. For now, the Waqf amendment has paused \u2014 but it hasn\u2019t been permanently shelved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the Court\u2019s timeline and political equations evolve, it will become clearer whether the Modi government is merely buying time \u2014 or preparing for a major legal-political leap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The battle over the Waqf law has just begun \u2014 and the political heat is only going to rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What do you think? Is this smart politics \u2014 or a retreat under pressure? Let us know.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also read: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bynewsindia.com\/politics\/bjp-aiadmk-alliance-challenges-dmk-in-2026-tamil-nadu-battle\/\"><strong>Explosive Comeback? BJP-AIADMK Alliance Gears Up for Tamil Nadu 2026 Battle, But Will the DMK Fortress Crumble?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-bynewsindia wp-block-embed-bynewsindia\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"IqHdm0J8rD\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bynewsindia.com\/india\/india-justice-report-2025-west-bengal-ranks-worst\/\">India Justice Report 2025: West Bengal Worst in Police &amp; Judiciary, No BJP State in Top-5 \u2013 Shocking Stats Revealed<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;India Justice Report 2025: West Bengal Worst in Police &amp; Judiciary, No BJP State in Top-5 \u2013 Shocking Stats Revealed&#8221; &#8212; ByNewsIndia\" src=\"https:\/\/bynewsindia.com\/india\/india-justice-report-2025-west-bengal-ranks-worst\/embed\/#?secret=bVHJ5xTEtT#?secret=IqHdm0J8rD\" data-secret=\"IqHdm0J8rD\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"gsp_post_data\" data-post_type=\"post\" data-cat=\"politics\" data-modified=\"120\" data-title=\"Waqf Law U-Turn: Govt Pulls Back in Court \u2014 But Is This a Strategic Pause Before a Bigger Political Push?\" data-home=\"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Waqf Law Update: The ongoing debate around the Waqf law has now taken a dramatic new turn. The Central Government, while appearing to step back in the Supreme Court, may actually be playing a deeper political game. Is this a defeat or a calculated political move? When the amended Waqf law was challenged in the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[103],"tags":[93,94,95,171,99,105,172,108,173,174,175,176],"class_list":{"0":"post-11381","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politics","8":"tag-bynews","9":"tag-bynews-special","10":"tag-bynewsindia","11":"tag-jpc-on-waqf-bill","12":"tag-top-stories","13":"tag-waqf-amendment-bill","14":"tag-waqf-bill","15":"tag-waqf-board","16":"tag-waqf-case","17":"tag-waqf-law","18":"tag-waqf-law-twist","19":"tag-waqf-law-update"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11381"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11773,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11381\/revisions\/11773"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}