The Supreme Court on Monday refused to extend the deadline for uploading data on the UMEED (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency & Development) Portal, created for the digital registration of Waqf properties. The current deadline is 6 December 2024.
During the hearing, a two-judge bench advised that Waqf trustees or institutions facing difficulties in uploading data should approach their respective Waqf Tribunal. The Court noted that the law already provides provisions for extending deadlines, and therefore, judicial intervention is unnecessary.
The Central Government launched the UMEED Portal on 6 June 2024 to create a digital record of all Waqf properties nationwide and enhance transparency in their management. All registered Waqf properties, including those under the “Waqf by User” category, are required to be uploaded to the portal within six months.
Several petitioners, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, and other trustees, approached the Supreme Court seeking an extension. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and M.R. Shamshad represented the petitioners.
They argued that millions of Waqf properties exist across the country, many in rural areas with limited technological access. In numerous cases, records are outdated, and the original trustees are no longer alive, making it difficult to complete the digital registration within the existing timeframe.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that approximately 600,000 properties have already been registered on the portal, indicating that technical obstacles are not significant. He added that under the Waqf Amendment Act, Waqf institutions facing difficulties can apply to the Waqf Tribunal for an extension of up to six months.
The bench, comprising Justices Deepankar Dutta and Augustine George Masih, said “The law already provides a solution. Follow that process. Do you want us to rewrite the Waqf law? That is not possible.”
Waqf institutions and trustees are now required to complete the registration by the prescribed deadline, or they must seek additional time from the Waqf Tribunal.
