The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has once again directed Waqf trusts not to register their properties on the new Umeed portal set up by the government until the Supreme Court delivers a final verdict on the Waqf Amendment Act 2025.
AIMPLB Flags Legal Concerns Over Waqf Amendment Act, Moves Supreme Court
The AIMPLB has filed a plea in the Supreme Court against the law, citing concerns over the erosion of Muslim rights and the potential targeting of other religious communities' properties. The organisation said that registering properties under the current circumstances could be seen as contempt of court.
Umeed Portal Launched to Digitise Waqf Records, But Sparks Opposition
The UMEED Central Portal, a digital platform for real-time uploading, verification, and monitoring of Waqf properties, was inaugurated by the minority and parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, on June 4. The AIMPLB had asked Muslim trusts to boycott the registration process after the portal was inaugurated. Waqf properties are charitable endowments under Islamic law, dedicated to religious or charitable purposes.
The Waqf Act, 1995, governs the management of these properties in India.
The amended law, passed by parliament on April 4, aims to enhance transparency and accountability but has sparked controversy over potential government interference. The latest data from September 2024 says that India has 8,70,000 Waqf properties, out of which 5973 are government properties identified as Waqf.
Supreme Court Hearings Concluded, Awaiting Interim Order
Senior advocate Yusuf Muchhala, a member of AIMPLB, stated that hearings in the plea were completed before the court went on vacation. "We were expecting the court to give an interim judgment after it reopened on July 14. The board has made the appeal considering the all-India scenario," said Muchhala.
AIMPLB accused the government of 'overreach' by putting pressure on mutawallis, or caretakers, to register properties, claiming it was an attempt to exert control over Waqf properties. The organisation also said that the amendments could lead to the misuse or appropriation of Waqf properties, undermining the autonomy of state-wise Waqf boards.
Government Says Transparency Key, States Continue Online Registrations
The government stated that the portal will add a new chapter to the history of Waqf property management and administration in India, bringing transparency while also benefiting common Muslims, particularly women and children.
A senior Waqf official from the Maharashtra State Board of Wakf, Sambhaji Nagar, said, "Our officials are talking to people at the ground level. People are filing documents online. We cannot have a five-decade-old system that relies on paper files. If the documents are online, anyone anywhere in the world can read them. When the Supreme Court comes to a decision, we will follow it.
Muslim Groups Call Law Unconstitutional, Fear Misuse of Waqf Properties
Meanwhile, registrations are going on."Muslim groups, however, argue that the law contradicts fundamental provisions of the Constitution. The AIMPLB wants the law to be stayed before the court looks at its validity under the Constitution.
