India, June 2 -- The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the legal basis for exempting waqf institutions from payment of court fees in proceedings before State Waqf Tribunals.

A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Aravind Kumar made the remarks while hearing a plea against an order of the Gujarat High Court that upheld the rejection of waqf suits for non-payment of court fees by relying on its earlier ruling that Waqf institutions are not exempt from paying court fees before the State Waqf Tribunal.

Advocate Ejaz Maqbool, appearing for petitioners, sought time to file additional documents challenging the Gujarat High Court's December 2025 decision.

Justice Narasimha, however, questioned Maqbool about the basis of the claim for exemption ...