The Ministry of Minority Affairs has issued an urgent appeal, urging individuals and bodies responsible for Waqf properties across India to expedite their registrations on the central UMEED portal. This comes as the six-month deadline stipulated under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, is set to expire on December 5, leaving only a handful of days for compliance.
Supreme Court Refuses Extension, Tribunal Route Remains
The ministry's call for haste follows a significant legal development. The Supreme Court has refused to grant an extension for the mandatory registration of all Waqf properties. With the clock ticking down to Friday, the ministry emphasized that registration is "mandatory" and that only "4 days are left."
For those who miss the December 5 cutoff, the path forward narrows significantly. The only recourse will be to approach the Waqf tribunal. The tribunal can permit an extension of time up to six months, but only if it is satisfied with the reasons presented for the delay in filing.
State-Wide Disparities in Registration Numbers
The registration drive has seen a varied response from different states. As of Monday evening, over 3 lakh (300,000) property uploads had been initiated on the UMEED portal. However, these properties are at various stages of verification. Official data shows that 7,353 uploads were rejected, while more than 41,000 are still awaiting approval.
The state-wise breakdown reveals stark contrasts:
- Karnataka leads with the highest number of initiated uploads at 54,150.
- It is followed by Maharashtra (45,310) and Uttar Pradesh (37,104).
- Several regions, including Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Goa, and Ladakh, have yet to initiate any uploads, showing a status of zero.
In a notable shift, West Bengal, which had previously strongly opposed the amended Act, has now reportedly directed its state authorities to adhere to the deadline. The state, which had not participated earlier, had initiated uploads for 5,478 properties by Monday evening.
Ministry's Push for Transparency and Addressing Concerns
The Ministry of Minority Affairs is pulling out all stops to meet the deadline. It has scheduled an online meeting with all Waqf Boards on Tuesday to address last-minute hurdles and streamline the process. Officials acknowledge that the wide variation in state data indicates a probable decline in the total number of properties that will successfully register by December 5.
The UMEED portal was launched to bring transparency and create a reliable database, replacing the older Waqf Assets Management System of India (WAMSI), whose data was found to be "severely lacking." While some Muslim bodies and Muttawallis (trustees) have cited glitches and complexities in the uploading process, the ministry maintains that adequate training and meetings have been conducted with Waqf boards to facilitate a smooth transition.
Initially, data from states suggested there were over 8.72 lakh (872,000) registered Waqf properties in the country. The current registration drive on the new portal is a critical step to validate and update this national inventory, plugging the gaps identified in the previous system.
