The deadline for uploading details of all waqf properties across India on the central UMEED portal is set to expire at midnight on Friday. With the six-month window closing, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has urgently sought an extension, citing a last-minute rush and technical glitches on the government's online platform.
Last-Minute Rush and Technical Hurdles
As of Wednesday evening, uploads for just over 3.42 lakh properties had been initiated. This surge came primarily after the Supreme Court refused to extend the deadline on Monday, prompting mutawallis (trustees) nationwide to scramble. AIMPLB spokesperson SQR Ilyas stated that reports of the portal repeatedly crashing, slowing down, or stopping entirely have been pouring in. He argued that uploading lakhs of properties in such a short timeframe is nearly impossible.
The board has written to the Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian, requesting an urgent meeting to highlight these technical problems and formally seek a deadline extension. In a letter sent by email and post, AIMPLB's general secretary, Maulana Muhammad Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, emphasized that the portal's slow speed and other technical issues made the given period too short. He noted that despite the board and various community organizations holding workshops and setting up help desks nationwide, the sheer volume of work remained overwhelming.
Legal Consequences and Government's Stance
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, the only recourse for those who fail to meet the Friday deadline is to approach the waqf tribunal. The tribunal can grant an extension of up to six months, but only if it is satisfied with the reasons for the delay.
Meanwhile, officials from the minority affairs ministry presented a different perspective. They stated that adequate training and meetings, including an online session held on Tuesday, have been conducted with state waqf boards. A ministry official defended the portal's functionality, pointing out that it had successfully handled over one lakh uploads in the past 100 hours. The official questioned how its functionality could be faulted for hanging or malfunctioning given this performance.
The Root of the Problem: Procrastination or Portal Flaws?
The ministry suggested that the current crisis stems more from delayed action than from inherent flaws in the system. An official highlighted that for nearly four months, there were few uploads, and the sudden surge has created an unusually heavy load on the portal, leading to complaints.
As the clock ticks down to the Friday midnight deadline, a standoff persists between the waqf property administrators, represented by the AIMPLB, and the government. The trustees face the prospect of navigating legal tribunals, while the government maintains that its portal is robust and the rush is a consequence of widespread procrastination.
