Dog walking in stadium; SC stays Delhi HC order asking Centre to reinstate IAS officer

The Delhi High Court has requested information from both the federal government and the city administration regarding a legal action aimed at establishing the Delhi Waqf Board. Justice Anish Dayal directed the governments to respond to a petition seeking guidance on how to promptly complete the legal process for creating the Board in line with the Waqf Act of 1995, which was expanded by the Waqf (Amendment) Act of 2025.

The petitioner's legal counsel argued that after the previous Delhi Waqf Board's term ended in August 2023, no actions have been taken to establish a new Board. Although an administrator was appointed in January 2024 by the Delhi government, the Board has not yet been created, despite a legal requirement, according to the petition.

On September 8, Justice Dayal granted the Delhi government and the Center four weeks to present their responses. Petitioner Mohd. Shahid contended that despite the 2025 amendment, Parliament remains obligated to create a Waqf Board for each State and Union Territory, and the authorities' failure to establish the Board constitutes a breach of their statutory duty.

The petition highlighted that the Board's prolonged absence has left valuable waqf properties in Delhi at risk of being taken over, illegally occupied, improperly alienated, misused, and deteriorated. Public charitable institutions, mosques, graveyards, educational institutions, and other waqf establishments that depend on proper statutory oversight have suffered significant harm.

The petition's beneficiaries, including worshippers and members of the Muslim community, have been deprived of the statutory protections outlined by Parliament. Lawyers Rizwan Ahmad, Feroz Khan Ghazi, Mohd. Wasiq Khan, Himanshu Gupta, and Mohd. Shoaib Ansari are representing the petitioner. The matter will be heard again on December 10.