NEW DELHI: A Dawoodi Bohra community delegation met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and thanked him for the newly passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, describing the law as their community’s long-awaited requirement.
It was a long-pending demand of the community, they said, according to news agency ANI.
The delegation further expressed confidence in the Prime Minister’s principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’.
The Dawoodi Bohras, originating from Western India, constitute a Muslim community with a global presence across more than 40 nations.
Their ancestral lineage connects to the Fatimid Imams of Egypt, who were direct descendants of Prophet Muhammad.
The community follows the leadership of al-dai al-mutlaq (unrestricted missionary), who initially operated from Yemen before establishing base in India 450 years ago.
Earlier that day, the Supreme Court temporarily suspended several provisions of the new Waqf Act for seven days, instructing the central government to preserve the current situation until the subsequent hearing.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising CJI Sanjiv Khanna and justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanthan, noted solicitor general Tushar Mehta’s commitment that no appointments would occur to the Central Waqf Council and Auqaf Boards under the 2025 Waqf Amendment Act, and existing waqf properties registered under the 1995 Act would remain unaffected.
The top court scheduled the next hearing for May 5.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, received presidential approval on April 5 following parliamentary passage amidst intense discussions. The Rajya Sabha passed it with 128 supporting votes against 95, whilst the Lok Sabha approved it with 288 votes in favour and 232 against.
A total of 72 petitions have been filed challenging the Act, including those by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, DMK, and Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Mohammad Jawed.The Centre has filed a caveat in the apex court seeking a hearing before any interim order is passed.
