With just a day remaining before the deadline, officials from various state Waqf boards have declared it nearly impossible to complete the registration of all Waqf properties on the central government's UMEED portal. The exercise, mandated under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, has been marred by technical failures of the portal and the non-availability of documents for centuries-old properties.
State-Wise Registration Data Reveals Major Shortfall
Uttar Pradesh, which holds the largest share of Waqf land in the country with approximately 1.4 lakh assets, has managed to register only about 36% of its properties. The state's Sunni Waqf Board has uploaded details for 45,574 out of 1.26 lakh properties, while the Shia Board has registered 2,909 out of 15,386.
In West Bengal, which ranks second, the situation is more dire with only about 12% of its 80,480 properties registered. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have each recorded around 10% registration of their 65,242 and 66,092 properties respectively. Punjab stands as an outlier, reporting around 80% registration, but officials clarify this is because they are registering larger 'Waqf estates' rather than individual properties, simplifying the process.
Technical Hurdles and Historical Challenges
Board officials and mutawallis (caretakers) nationwide have reported persistent issues with the 'Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development' (UMEED) portal. Complaints of the portal crashing, slowing down, or becoming entirely unresponsive are widespread. The process is further complicated by the historical nature of many assets.
"For properties declared Waqf in the early 20th century, finding original mutation papers is next to impossible. If they are already recorded as Waqf in revenue records, why is this duplication needed?" questioned a senior official from the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board. Other challenges include mutawallis in rural areas lacking technical proficiency and English language skills to navigate the portal, and discrepancies in land measurement units like 'bigha' across different states.
Political Appeals and Legal Standoff
The looming deadline has triggered appeals from various quarters. Several Muslim MPs, cutting across party lines, have written to Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju seeking an extension. In Parliament, MPs like SP's Mohibullah Nadvi and Congress's Imran Masood highlighted the technical failures and the anxiety within the Muslim community.
However, Minister Rijiju has stated that the deadline is embedded in the Act and cannot be unilaterally extended. He advised that Waqf boards or mutawallis facing genuine issues should approach the state-level Waqf tribunals, which have the authority to grant more time. The Supreme Court, hearing a related plea, also refused a blanket extension and directed petitioners to seek relief from the tribunals.
Officials fear the tribunals will be overwhelmed with thousands of last-minute applications. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has also called for an extension, citing the impracticality of uploading lakhs of property details in such a short timeframe amid systemic issues.
As the clock ticks down, Waqf boards are working round-the-clock in a race against time, but the consensus is clear: without an extension or significant technical intervention, full compliance by the December 5 deadline remains a distant goal.
