Waqf-by-User Denotification: Supreme Court Flags Serious Concerns
Summary:
In a crucial hearing on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, the Supreme Court of India raised serious concerns regarding the denotification of Waqf-by-user properties, warning that it could lead to a *"huge problem."* The court was responding to around 100 petitions challenging various provisions of the Act.
The core issue lies in the recognition of “Waqf-by-user”—where the usage of a property by the Muslim community over time is considered sufficient to classify it as Waqf property. The 2025 amendment gave states the authority to determine if a property is Waqf or government-owned, even without formal documentation.
Key Highlights for UPSC/SSB Aspirants:
- Three-point proposal by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna:
1. Properties already declared as Waqf by courts should remain unaffected.
2. Government officers should not act unilaterally to declare property as Waqf; it should follow proper legal process.
3. The inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf Boards was proposed to improve representation and transparency.
- Legal and Historical Complexity:
- Many Waqf properties date back to 14th–17th centuries, lacking formal property or registration records.
- Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta emphasized that Waqf was often misused to claim land retroactively, even without documentation.
- The Chief Justice acknowledged that historical practices predate modern property law, complicating present-day classification.
- Concerns Raised:
- Kapil Sibal (petitioners' advocate): "Where are the records for centuries-old Waqf claims?"
- Sanjiv Khanna: Asking for proof from 15th-century Waqf properties is nearly impossible now.
- Tushar Mehta: If a Muslim wishes to do charity, he doesn’t need to be within a Waqf Board.
Why This Matters for UPSC & SSB Aspirants:
- Polity & Governance: Understand the legal structure of Waqf Boards, their powers, and conflict with state authority.
- Constitutional Issues: Balance between secular state principles and religious administrative bodies.
- Legal Reforms: The Waqf Amendment Act 2025 reflects ongoing challenges in modernizing property and religious trust laws in India.
- Judicial Review: The role of the Supreme Court in upholding fundamental rights and preventing misuse of power by religious or state bodies.
India-China Dialogue to Resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra After Four-Year Suspension
Summary:
India and China are currently working towards resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which has remained suspended since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and border tensions, especially following the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has initiated high-level talks with Chinese counterparts. Officials expect an agreement to be reached "shortly", with preparations already underway on the Indian side, including:
- Finalizing the list of pilgrims (deadline approaching soon),
- Special transport from Dharcula to Lipulekh Pass, which will reduce the trek by 80–100 km,
- Revival of logistical arrangements and infrastructure at the border.
The annual yatra typically occurs between June and September, and offers Indian pilgrims access to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, considered sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
Why It’s Important for UPSC & SSB Aspirants:
- Geopolitics & Diplomacy: Highlights India-China bilateral cooperation despite border tensions.
- Cultural Diplomacy: Kailash Mansarovar holds religious and strategic importance for India.
- Border Management: Lipulekh Pass and Dharchula are key points in Indo-China border policy.
- Current Affairs 2025: This event is likely to be relevant in UPSC Prelims/SSB GD and Lecturette.
SanskritSahitya.org: IIT-B Alumnus Creates Free Platform for Sanskrit Literature Access
Summary:
Antariksh Bothale, an IIT-Bombay alumnus and software engineer from Jodhpur, has launched SanskritSahitya.org, a free website providing structured and searchable access to Sanskrit literary texts such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Mahakavya, and poems by Kalidasa.
His academic background in Computational Linguistics and professional work at Google helped him develop the platform to serve both casual readers and experts. Key features include:
- Structured navigation (based on *sarga*, *adhyaya*, *kanda*),
- Metrical tagging, translations, and morphological analysis,
- Offline access after a one-time download,
- Open-source data via GitHub for researchers.
The initiative aims to preserve and promote Sanskrit literature using modern technology and is a boon for students, scholars, and UPSC aspirants preparing topics like Ancient Indian Literature and Language Preservation.
