120 petitions challenging Waqf Act pending before courts, Delhi HC told

The Delhi High Court was on Wednesday informed by the Centre that nearly 120 writ petitions challenging one or more provisions of the Waqf Act are pending before various courts in the country.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, while hearing a PIL by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay assailing certain provisions of the same law, asked the central government counsel to seek instructions on taking steps for the consolidation of all the cases.

Counsel for central government prays for time to take appropriate steps and seek instructions for consolidation of all such cases, said the bench also comprising Justice Sachin Datta.

Centre, in an application filed in the present petition, sought an extension of three months for filing the reply and said apart from the instant case, nearly 120 writ petitions challenging one or more provisions of the Waqf Act 1995, are pending before various courts.

It submitted that it was essential to ensure that a clear and consistent view is