SC Agrees To Hear Plea Seeking Extension Of Timeline For Registration Of Waqf Properties

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to list an application seeking an extension of the deadline for mandatory registration of all Waqf properties, including Waqf-by-user assets, on the UMEED portal.

Under the current mandate, all details of registered Waqf properties across India must be uploaded to the UMEED portal within 6 months of the amended law coming into force.

Owaisi Seeks More Time For Registration

A bench led by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai said it would hear the matter after advocate Nizam Pasha, representing AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, urged the court to take up the plea for an extension.

“Let it be listed, listing does not mean granting,” the CJI remarked, indicating that the matter would be considered without any presumption of relief.

Pasha pointed out that much of the allotted time had already lapsed due to court proceedings.

“Six months were allocated in the amended law for the registration of Waqf properties. Five months went during the judgment; we now only have one month left for the registration,” he said.

Court Earlier Refused To Stay Entire Waqf (Amendment) Act

On September 15, the apex court, in an interim order, refused to stay the entire Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, but kept certain provisions on hold pending the final hearing of petitions challenging its constitutional validity.

Among the suspended clauses was the one restricting the creation of a Waqf to only those who had been practising Islam for at least 5 years.

The bench observed that the Centre’s decision to delete the Waqf-by-user provision from the newly amended law was “prima facie not arbitrary.”

The court also noted that the claim that Waqf lands would be “grabbed by governments” as a result of the amendment “holds no water.”

What Is Waqf-by-User?

Waqf-by-user refers to properties recognised as religious or charitable endowments due to their long-term, uninterrupted use for such purposes — even without a formal written declaration by the owner.

Challenge To The Amendment Act

The court’s interim order came while hearing a batch of petitions that argued the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, was discriminatory against the Muslim community and violated fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.