Petition filed in Supreme Court Demands SIT, Judicial Oversight into Bengal Violence over Waqf Law
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi – 15, April- The Supreme Court is set to hear a series of high-stakes petitions this week concerning the recent wave of communal violence in West Bengal, sparked by the controversial Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. The violence, which left at least three people dead and hundreds displaced, has prompted calls for judicial intervention and a thorough probe into the incidents.
A separate petition has been filed before the apex court, seeking urgent measures including the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a court-monitored probe into the violent clashes. The lead petitioner, advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, specifically cited the April 14 violence in Bhangar, located in South 24 Parganas district, as a disturbing example of law-and-order breakdown in the wake of the new legislation.
The petition pertains to the urgent requirement of the action against the rioters who have unleashed the violence in the state of West Bengal resulting in people at large getting assaulted, murdered, their property being destroyed, religious structures of Hindus being vandalized, people are forced for exodus from Bengal because of their political affiliation and religious identities.
The petition urge the Supreme Court to direct the Central and State Governments to file comprehensive reports detailing the steps taken to curb the unrest, protect public property, and safeguard the lives of residents affected by the communal flare-ups.
Tensions have been running high in districts like Murshidabad, where violence broke out in areas such as Shruti Birganj and Jangipur on April 11 and 12. Local reports suggest that mobs clashed over provisions in the Waqf Amendment Act, which officially came into effect on April 8, 2025. The resulting chaos has left large swathes of communities displaced, with homes torched and livelihoods lost.
The situation escalated to such a degree that the Calcutta High Court recently ordered the deployment of Central paramilitary forces in Murshidabad, underscoring the gravity of the conflict.
Adding to the legal pressure, a host of prominent political and religious organizations have joined the fray, filing petitions against the new law. The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) are among those listed for hearings on Wednesday, when a bench headed by Chief Justice Deepak Khanna will take up the matter.
In anticipation of these hearings, the Central Government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, ensuring that no interim orders are issued without first hearing its side.
As arguments for and against the Waqf Amendment Act continue to pile up, the coming days in court are expected to be crucial, potentially reshaping the legal and political discourse around religious trust management and communal harmony in India.
