SC to hear pleas on extending time for Waqf property registrations

New Delhi, the Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on December 1 a batch of pleas, including one filed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, seeking extension of time for mandatory registration of all waqf properties under the UMEED portal. The petitions argue that the six-month window for registration is nearing its end and require urgent listing for adjudication.

A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih directed that these applications be listed along with other I.A. petitions on December 01, 2025, underscoring the urgency of the matter as the deadline looms for many waqf properties nationwide.

Earlier, an interim order on September 15 put on hold a few key provisions of the Waqf Act, 2025, while refusing to stay the entire law. The court also discussed the Centre's move to delete the 'waqf by user' provision; the Centre maintained the removal was not arbitrary, while critics warned that waqf lands could be at risk of government encroachment. The 'waqf by user' concept recognizes properties used for religious or charitable purposes over a long period even without a formal written declaration of waqf by the owner.

The UMEED portal, a central inventory and geo-tagging drive, aims to create a digital record of registered waqf properties. Under its mandate, details of all waqf properties are to be uploaded within six months, signaling a push toward transparent, centralized management of waqf assets.

Petitions from groups like the AIMB and other leaders indicate a broader debate over timelines and governance, as stakeholders weigh the balance between timely registration and safeguarding waqf properties from potential misuse or administrative delays.

Cover image source: Bengal govt begins uploading Waqf property records to central portal 🔗

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