New Delhi: A representative delegation of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Thursday met Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and submitted a memorandum detailing severe difficulties faced during the mandatory uploading of Waqf properties on the UMEED Portal. The delegation urged the government to extend the upload deadline by at least one year in view of the large number of properties that remained unregistered due to technical failures and administrative hurdles.
According to the delegation, the responsibility of uploading already registered Waqf properties should have rested with the Waqf Boards themselves, not with mutawallis—many of whom lacked the technical capacity and resources. They argued that the six-month time frame prescribed under Section 3B of the amended Waqf Act/UMEED Act was “extremely short”, especially given the ongoing glitches and delayed release of required forms and rules.
The UMEED Rules and declaration forms were notified only on 3 July 2025, nearly a month after the portal launch, leaving users with even less time. The delegation pointed out that several State Waqf Boards—including Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan—had themselves approached the Tribunal for extensions, which were granted. This, they argued, shows that even the Boards could not comply with the six-month timeline.
The AIMPLB requested that the initial upload period under the Act be extended by one year, after which mutawallis may approach the Tribunal if further extension is needed. They reminded the Minister that Section 113 of the Waqf Act/UMEED Act empowers the Central Government to issue orders to remove difficulties arising in implementation.
The Minister, they said, listened attentively and assured the delegation that the government would soon work to resolve the issues.
Members of the delegation included
AIMPLB Vice President Syed Sadatullah Husaini,
General Secretary Maulana Mohammed Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi,
Executive Member & MP Asaduddin Owaisi,
former MP Mohammad Adeeb,
Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind leaders Maulana Muhammad Hakimuddin Qasmi and Mufti Abdur Raziq,
and AIMPLB members Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi, Hakeem Muhammad Tahir, and Nabila Jamil.
Muslim Leaders Slam Govt for Shutting UMEED Portal with 75% Waqf Assets Unuploaded
Before the meeting, Muslim leaders and AIMPLB had strongly criticised the Union Government’s abrupt closure of the UMEED Portal on 6 December, leaving nearly 75% of India’s registered Waqf properties unuploaded.
The WAMSI database records 8,72,328 registered Waqf properties, whereas the UMEED Portal shows only 2,16,905 approved uploads—a national completion rate of just 25%. AIMPLB spokesperson Dr SQR Ilyas had earlier said that if issues remained unresolved even after discussions with the Minister, the Board would return to court.
A state-wise comparison revealed alarming gaps:
- Madhya Pradesh – 0% uploaded
- Rajasthan – 0.86%
- Kerala – 1.20%
- West Bengal – 0.89%
- Delhi – 6.11%
- U.P. Sunni – 5.97%
- U.P. Shia – 5.12%
These seven states alone account for over 3 lakh Waqf properties. Many failed to upload due to repeated portal crashes, missing documents, slowdown, and system errors.
Muslim organisations argue that the refusal to extend the deadline—despite widely documented technical failures—has unfairly penalised Waqf institutions and may jeopardise the legal standing of unuploaded properties.
AIMPLB’s Objections to Govt’s Approach
Dr Ilyas sharply questioned the government’s interpretation of the law. He said the so-called three-month grace period was not genuine relief:
“The three-month period applies only to those who attempted uploads but could not complete them. For properties where no application was attempted, mutawallis must go to the Tribunal—which may accept or reject registration.”
Rejecting Minister Kiren Rijiju’s claim that the six-month deadline was mandated by Waqf law and Supreme Court directions, Dr Ilyas said these statements were “incorrect and misleading.”
He emphasised:
“This process should never have been time-bound. Any property already registered as Waqf should automatically be entered onto the UMEED Portal.”
He added that transferring responsibility from Waqf Boards to mutawallis—many of whom lack technical capacity—was unfair and impractical.
“Instead of assisting Waqf Boards, the government imposed a deadline and withdrew from its responsibility. This is irresponsible and seems like a step towards eliminating Waqf properties.”
Opposition MPs Condemn Govt Move
Congress MP and JPC member on the Waqf Bill, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, said:
“The Centre’s refusal to extend the deadline is a betrayal of the assurance given to us. Many mutawallis simply could not complete the cumbersome digital process.”
He warned that ignoring the request for extension could push genuine Waqf properties into legal limbo.
Congress MP Dr Md Jawaid added:
“On Dec. 5, I moved an Adjournment Motion in Lok Sabha over the Government’s failure to ensure a functional UMEED portal and the need for an extension. #SaveWaqf”
Supreme Court Petition Challenges Mandatory Upload Requirement
A mutawalli from Madhya Pradesh, Hashmat Ali, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the mandatory digital upload requirement under Section 3B of the amended Waqf Act.
The plea argues that the UMEED Portal is structurally defective, technologically unworkable, and “forces false declarations” in violation of state-specific Waqf procedures.
Nearly 99% of Waqf properties in Madhya Pradesh are Section 5 Survey/Gazette-notified, yet the portal provides no option to register them—forcing mutawallis to misclassify properties as “Waqf-by-User” or “dedication.”
Govt Says Portal Closed as Mandated; No Penalties for 3 Months, But “No Deadline Extension”
The Union Minority Affairs Ministry confirmed that the UMEED Portal closed exactly after its six-month statutory window, as mandated by the Waqf Amendment Act and Supreme Court directions.
According to the ministry:
- 5,17,040 properties were initiated
- 2,16,905 were approved
- 2,13,941 remain submitted/pending
- 10,869 were rejected
Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that no penalties will be imposed for three months for incomplete uploads, following requests from MPs and community leaders.
However, the Ministry clarified, “The Minister has never stated that the deadline for Waqf property upload on the UMEED Portal has been extended.”
The Ministry reiterated that only the Waqf Tribunal has the power to grant further extensions.