New Delhi, Dec 1 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday refused to extend the time limit for uploading Waqf property details on the government’s UMEED portal, noting that Section 3B of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act empowers Waqf tribunals to grant extensions in appropriate cases.
A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Augustine George Masih disposed of the applications, granting liberty to the applicants to approach their respective tribunals before the statutory deadline.
At the outset, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the applicants, submitted that the amendment took effect on April 8, the portal became operational only on June 6, and the rules were notified on July 3.
He argued that the six-month timeline was insufficient, particularly for century-old waqfs where details such as the identity of the original waqif are unavailable. “Without these details, the portal won’t accept,” Sibal said.
Senior advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the portal suffered from technical glitches and said the applicants were willing to comply, but required more time.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the plea, submitting that the proviso to Section 3B expressly empowers tribunals to extend the time for registration on a case-by-case basis.
Sibal, however, pointed out that this would compel nearly 10 lakh muttawallis to file individual applications.
The bench observed that applicants could approach the tribunals with their grievances.
When Sibal argued that the portal’s glitches made compliance impossible, Justice Datta said, “If the portal is functional, as the Solicitor says, disputed by you, you must show some material.”
Sibal undertook to provide a note detailing the glitches.
Senior advocate MR Shamshad submitted that the issue concerned digitisation of already registered waqfs under Section 3B, not registration per se, and that this aspect was not considered in the court’s interim order.
Counsel Nizam Pasha argued that the six-month period had already expired on October 10, since it must be counted from the amendment date.
The solicitor general, however, stated that the deadline was December 6, based on the date the portal became operational.
The Bench declined to interfere, observing: “Since the remedy before the Tribunal is available to the applicants, we dispose of all the applications by granting liberty to approach the Tribunal by the last date of the six-month period as prescribed under Section 3B(1).”
The matter arises from the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which mandates the registration of all waqf properties, including those classified as “waqf by user” on the UMEED portal.
Various parties, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, have sought an extension of the statutory compliance period.
In its interim order of September 15, 2025, the court stayed certain amended provisions, including the five-year prior practice of Islam for creating waqf, but did not stay the mandatory registration requirement.
Section 36(10) also bars suits and legal proceedings on behalf of unregistered waqfs.
Owaisi’s plea highlights that nearly the entire six-month window elapsed while the matter remained pending before the court, potentially exposing old waqfs to dispossession and third-party claims without an extension.
