Government Lets Waqf Mutawallis Seek Tribunal Extension as UMEED Upload Deadline Looms

Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Minority Welfare, Muslim Waqf, and Haj Danish Azad Ansari announced on Tuesday that mutawallis (caretakers) unable to upload documents for Waqf properties on the UMEED portal by the December 5 deadline can seek a maximum six-month extension from the state Waqf tribunal by citing valid grounds. The clarification follows the Supreme Court's refusal on Monday to grant a blanket extension, directing affected parties to approach their respective tribunals as per its November 1 order. Ansari's statement aims to ease compliance pressures amid technical glitches plaguing the portal, which has seen only about 29,350 of the 1.26 lakh registered Waqf institutions under the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board complete uploads as of December 1.

The UMEED portal, launched on June 6, 2025, under the Waqf (Amendment) Act passed in April, is designed to create a comprehensive digital inventory of Waqf properties, enabling real-time data collection, streamlined management, and enhanced transparency to curb encroachments and misuse. Rules for its operation were notified on July 3, with the Supreme Court's September 15 interim order clarifying implementation, compressing the initial timeline into a truncated six-month window. However, increased user traffic has caused repeated crashes, frustrating mutawallis who must submit details like property deeds, GPS coordinates, and photographs for verification.

Speaking to the Hindustan Times over the phone from Delhi after a meeting with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ansari emphasised, “In light of the Supreme Court’s November 1 order, mutawallis can now approach the Waqf tribunal to seek a six-month extension on valid grounds.” He assured swift action to restore the tribunal's judicial functionality, noting that it has been non-operational since member Advocate Syed Shahab Haider Zaidi's retirement on September 26, with no replacement appointed yet. “If the tribunal is not judicially functional due to the retirement of a member, we will ensure that the appointment is made soon. We hope the mutawallis will upload the documents after getting the extension from the tribunal,” Ansari added.

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The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has stepped in to support affected mutawallis, announcing plans to form a dedicated legal team to assist with tribunal applications. Concerns persist over the tribunal's capacity to handle potentially thousands of pleas on such short notice, with board members urging government intervention to avoid widespread non-compliance. In Lucknow, some mutawallis, such as those managing Waqf Shahi Masjid Roshan Takiya and Masjid Waqf Dilawar Ali Compound, have successfully uploaded documents and begun displaying registration number signboards outside mosques, signalling early adoption.

This development underscores the challenges in digitising Waqf assets—a vast network spanning over 8 lakh properties nationwide valued at billions—while balancing legal deadlines with practical hurdles. Uttar Pradesh, home to the country's largest Waqf holdings, stands to benefit immensely from the portal's success in preventing disputes and optimising revenue for community welfare. As the December 5 cutoff looms, authorities are racing to resolve technical issues and expedite tribunal staffing to ensure seamless compliance.

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