New Delhi, Sep 15: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s interim order on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, saying the spirit of the verdict was in favour of “democratic India” and assured that the Centre would re-examine the provision requiring five years of practising Islam for the creation of Waqf.

The apex court, in its interim order on Monday, declined to stay the Waqf Act in its entirety, noting that a statute carries a presumption of constitutionality and can be stayed only in the rarest of cases.

However, a Bench comprising the Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih stayed the provision mandating five years of practising Islam for the creation of Waqf, until rules are framed.

Reacting to the order, Rijiju told reporters, “I am satisfied with the judgment of the Supreme Court. This will benefit the poor, homeless and backwards classes of Muslims. Since the Supreme Court is the top court, it will surely have an impact. In a way, the decision has upheld the one that was made in Parliament. We will go through the provision of the practising Muslim once again.”

He criticised the Opposition and those protesting the Act, asserting that challenging the authority of Parliament was not justified.

“I have not read the judgment yet; however, the spirit of the order is in favour of democratic India. Some people just unnecessarily challenge the Parliament’s authority in the Supreme Court. One can challenge the provision but not the authority of the Parliament,” he said.

The Supreme Court also stayed the provision that allowed a designated officer to decide whether a Waqf property encroached on government land, ruling that entrusting such powers to an executive officer would breach the principle of separation of powers.

Additionally, the court directed that until adjudication by the tribunal takes place, no third-party rights can be created against any parties involved.

Srinagar, Sept 15: Here are top headlines from Kashmir and beyond this past week.

J&K High Court restrains police from filing charge-sheet against MLA Mehraj Malik

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has restrained police from filing a charge-sheet against Doda MLA Mehraj Malik, while permitting the investigation to proceed.

The case invokes Section 356(2) (assault with intent to dishonour), Section 79 (obstructing a public servant), and Section 351(2) (use of force to deter a public servant).

After show-cause notice, PDP MLA Para says speaker must speak in defence of legislators

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Para on Friday said as the custodian of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the speaker must speak in defence of the legislators to protect the “institution of MLA”.

The remarks of Para, the MLA from Pulwama, came after Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to him for his social media post claiming the Assembly Secretariat endorsed the detention of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

J&K LG Manoj Sinha inaugurates high Capacity Parcel train

Nepal’s interim PM Karki vows to step down after 6 months

Nepal’s newly-appointed interim prime minister Sushila Karki has said she will serve in office for no longer than six months, pledging to hand power to a new government after elections scheduled for 5 March next year.

“I did not wish for this job. It was after voices from the streets that I was compelled to accept,” Karki told reporters in her first public remarks since being sworn in on Friday, according to the BBC.

J-K: 400 shifted to shelters as land subsidence damages houses in Poonch

Nearly 400 residents of Kalaban village in Mendhar sub-division of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district have been shifted to temporary shelters after several houses developed cracks due to land subsidence triggered by continuous rainfall, officials said on Monday.

Authorities, with the support of a local NGO, are providing relief material and essentials to the displaced families. The administration has declared Kalaban unsafe and directed residents to evacuate until further notice.

Govt allocates Rs 124 crore for health sector upgrades: Health Minister Sakina Itoo

Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Friday said that the government has earmarked over ₹124 crore to boost health infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.

In a post on X, Minister Itoo said the allocation includes CT Scan facility at GMC Jammu, MRI machines for GMC Baramulla, GMC Kathua and GMC Rajouri, a Cath Lab at GMC Doda, and a PET Scan for GMC Srinagar.

She added that the plan also provides for strengthening telemedicine services with 80 units across the Union Territory, ensuring wider access to modern healthcare.

Chickenpox outbreak forces closure of north Kashmir school indefinitely

An outbreak of chickenpox has prompted authorities to suspend class work at Government Middle School Khonchipora in Kunzer zone of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

According to an official order issued by the Zonal Education Officer Kunzer, the decision was taken after cases of chickenpox were reported among students. A medical team dispatched to the school yesterday for examination and preventive measures.

New Delhi, Sep 15: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the Waqf law, saying there was a “presumption” of constitutionality in its favour, but stalled the operation of certain provisions, including the one which said only those who are practising Islam for the last five years can create a waqf.

Pronouncing an interim order, a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih said, “We have considered prima facie challenge to each of the sections and found no case was made out to stay the entire statute.”

The top court, however, stayed the provision which said that persons practising Islam for the last five years can only create a waqf.

It also stayed the provision which enabled an officer designated by the government to determine the dispute whether the Waqf property has encroached on a government property.

“We have held presumption is always on constitutionality of statute and in rarest it can be done. We have found that the entire Act is challenged, but the basic challenge was sections 3(r), 3C, 14,…,” the CJI said.

It directed that as far as possible the Chief Executive Officer of the Waqf Board should be a Muslim, while refusing to stay the amendment allowing the appointment of a non-Muslim as a CEO.

It also said the number of non-Muslims in state waqf boards and central waqf councils cannot exceed three.

The detailed judgement is awaited.

The top court on May 22 had reserved its order on three key issues, including the power to denotify properties declared as “waqf by courts, waqf-by-user or waqf by deed”, which cropped up during the hearing of pleas challenging the validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.