The Supreme Court on Friday refused to urgently list an interim application challenging the mandatory registration of all waqfs, including those classified as “waqf-by-user,” under the recently launched UMEED portal.
On June 6, the Centre rolled out the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Central Portal. The initiative aims to create a comprehensive digital inventory of waqf properties across the country by geo-tagging and uploading details of all registered assets.
Under the mandate, waqf boards must upload property details on the portal within six months.
Court Had Reserved Orders Earlier
A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai reminded counsel that interim orders in the larger waqf matter had already been reserved. The court had earlier heard arguments and reserved its order on May 22 on three critical questions:
The power to denotify properties classified as waqf through court rulings, user claims, or deeds under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
The composition and functioning of state waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council.
A provision allowing collectors to determine if a waqf property is actually government land, which would exclude it from being treated as waqf.
Lawyers Flag Practical Issues
On Friday, a lawyer informed the bench that the UMEED portal now makes registration mandatory for all categories of waqf properties, including waqf-by-users, but said such properties are often difficult to formally register.
“We sought to file an interim application for directions, but the (apex court) registry is not allowing it saying that the judgment is already reserved,” the lawyer said.
Chief Justice Gavai responded, “We have already reserved the order in the matter.”
When the counsel pointed out the urgency due to the six-month deadline, the CJI remarked, “You register it… nobody is refusing you the registration,” indicating the issue could be taken up later.
Centre Defends The Law
The Centre has strongly backed the amendments, arguing that waqf is a secular concept and the legislation enjoys a presumption of constitutionality. It has urged the court not to stall the implementation of the portal or other provisions of the Act.
With the orders already reserved, the court is expected to rule on key aspects of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, including the scope of registration, powers of denotification, and oversight mechanisms. Until then, the registration requirement under UMEED remains in force.
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