Waqf Board, mutawallis in dilemma over waqf portal UMEED.

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Telangana

Waqf Board, mutawallis in dilemma over new waqf portal

AIMPLB prepared a petition seeking to challenge the Umeed portal.

The Union Minister Kiren Rijiju launches the ‘UMEED Portal’ (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency &Development Act, 1995), in New Delhi.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju launches the ‘UMEED Portal’ (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency & Development Act, 1995), in New Delhi. File | Photo Credit: PTI

The Telangana State Waqf Board (TGSWB) is awaiting instructions from the State government on how to proceed with the Urban Monitoring for Efficient and Effective Decision-making (UMEED) portal with mutawallis in a dilemma about registering on the site.

According to the Union government, the portal is intended to bring about transparency in administration and would also benefit Muslim women. Waqf properties will be geo-tagged and various e-governance tools will be integrated into the system.

Mutawallis are expected to upload details and documents pertaining to waqf institutions and properties. However, sources indicated that only three registrations have taken place so far.

“It is as if both we and the mutawallis are in a dilemma over UMEED,” a senior officer at the TGSWB said. “The portal was launched on June 6. There are six months for all data to be uploaded. Over a month has passed. We have written to the State government seeking instructions on how to proceed. A response, and clarity, are awaited.”

To illustrate the scale of the task, the official pointed out that, according to the First Waqf Survey, Telangana has 33,929 waqf institutions. “The portal requires personal details, institutional data such as extent of land, encroachments if any, and the number of court cases, among other things,” he said.

The portal also includes a project monitoring unit (PMU). This is likely to consist of a State government officer, a civil servant, who will oversee the uploading and updating of documents. An official connected to the district collectorate, and a representative from the State Waqf Board, most likely the Chief Executive Officer, will also be part of this unit.

Meanwhile, Syed Bandagi Badesha Quadri, a member of the TGSWB, expressed hope that the Telangana government would follow the example of Tamil Nadu. Its Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the Union government to withdraw the legislation when it was still a Bill. He also referred to West Bengal, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly stated that the legislation would not be implemented.

“We are hopeful that the Telangana government will not implement the Act. As far as the Supreme Court developments go, the contentions are over waqf-by-user, the inclusion of non-Muslim members in waqf boards and the law of limitation regarding waqf properties. As for the portal, the Board has the required documents. It can help mutawallis access documents by coordinating with other State government departments and agencies. These include the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration, survey offices, and the Survey Settlements, Land Records, Settlements and Jagir Administration office, which can help mutawallis access necessary records,” Mr. Quadri said.

Jawed Ahmad – Chairman,Waqf Welfare Forum shared his views on UMEED portal that the portal is not an user friendly and still need more improvement, meanwhile the waqf boards and Mutwalis are waiting for the final direction from respective states.

UP Sunni waqf board , Bihar, Jharkhand, UK, Delhi and more states are facing similar kind of difficulties on Portal.

Hope Apex Court will deliver judgment as an earliest possible.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board opposed the portal and appealed to Muslims and waqf boards not to register properties on it till the apex court delivers its judgement. Speaking to The Hindu, AIMPLB member and spokesperson S.Q.R. Ilyas said, “We have already prepared a petition seeking to challenge the portal. However, we are awaiting the interim order from the court after which we will seek to tag the petition.

Published – July 19, 2025 09:48 am IST