The Centre on Tuesday defended the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in the Supreme Court, saying Waqf by its very nature is a “secular concept” and can’t be stayed given “presumption of constitutionality” in its favour.

The Centre, in its written note submitted through Solicitor General Tushar Mehta before a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, addressed the issues the court had previously raised and said the law only sought to regulate secular aspects of Waqf administration while safeguarding religious freedoms. He said there was no “grave national urgency” calling for its stay.