Government asks states to adhere to timelines after launch of Waqf portal | India News

NEW DELHI: Only properties registered as waqf with the state boards shall be in a position to add their particulars for verification and get a 17-number distinctive ID on the brand new Central Waqf Portal launched by govt on Friday. This additionally applies to “waqf by user” properties that existed prior to the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 coming into pressure on April 8.Sharing that there have been over 9 lakh waqf properties in India, minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that states ought to comply with the timelines strictly and the boards should make sure that particulars of all waqf properties registered with them are uploaded on the portal inside the stipulated 6 months.“All old properties that are in keeping with the law — titled and legitimate — will get included. Those that are illegal and without any documents will not get included. New waqf properties that get created going forward will be included in the database,” Rijiju mentioned.According to officers, waqf properties that aren’t registered will want to strategy their waqf boards to full the method of registration. In the case of properties whose particulars are uploaded however which fail to get validated on the portal, there would be the possibility to strategy the waqf tribunal for redressal.On what occurs to properties which have supposedly been used as waqf however lack paperwork to show so, Rijiju mentioned: “Such waqf properties that do not have adequate documents but which are recognised socially and by govt and are working, we are not declaring them illegal. The issues are only with those kinds of properties which have been acquired forcefully, fraudulently, or do not have proper supportive documents or provisions. Moreover, the law does not prevent anyone from performing any religious rituals….”He, nevertheless, emphasised that going ahead all waqf properties will want to repair no matter is lacking of their documentation so as to come on board.On the portal, the entry of property particulars by the Mutawalli (caretaker) shall be adopted by validation by waqf boards and approval by designated govt authorities, after verification of data, to allow its entry into the ‘UMEED’ (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act 1995) portal.For the wide-ranging particulars associated to any property, the portal additionally requires the Muttawali to give a declaration earlier than importing them. This contains questions like “have you failed to maintain regular accounts for two consecutive years or submit for two consecutive years the yearly statement of accounts as per law; have you been convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment of less than two years; and are you part of any unlawful organisation under UAPA”.Key options of the portal embrace creation of a digital stock with geo-tagging of all waqf properties, on-line grievance redressal system, clear leasing and utilization monitoring, integration with GIS mapping and public entry to verified data and experiences.Pointing out that there was no keep on the regulation by the judiciary, Rijiju pressured that the portal by no means violates the regulation or the Constitution. The minister was responding to All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s assertion that it’s going to problem the authorized validity of the portal within the Supreme Court the place the regulation is beneath scrutiny.