Waqf Act: SC Clarifies Civil Courts Retain Jurisdiction Over Unregistered Properties

• The Supreme Court ruled that Waqf tribunals' jurisdiction is limited to properties notified in the 'list of auqaf' or registered under the Waqf Act.
• Civil courts are not automatically divested of jurisdiction under Section 85 of the Waqf Act, 1995, for properties not falling under the tribunal's purview.
• Section 85 of the Act bars civil court jurisdiction only for matters related to tribunal orders or proceedings.
• Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran made this observation while overturning a Telangana High Court judgment concerning an unregistered property.
• The top court emphasized that there is no absolute ouster of civil court jurisdiction, especially for properties not specified in the 'list of auqaf'.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court clarifies Waqf tribunals' limited jurisdiction, affirming civil courts' role for unregistered properties.