Social groups, Muslim organisations, and some political parties have demanded a ban on the amended law
NEW DELHI — Ignoring strong protests and legal challenges by several Muslim organisations, members of parliament, and civil society, the Narendra Modi government at the Centre has decided to launch the ‘Umeed’ Waqf portal on June 6 to register and manage Waqf properties across the country.
The portal, which stands for “Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development”, will serve as a centralised platform for registering Waqf properties nationwide, sources said.
The government claims that the Waqf Act 2025, which it began enforcing last month, aims to bring transparency and prevent irregularities in Waqf property management. However, more than 70 petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the law. After hearing these petitions, the court has placed an interim stay on some provisions of the Act.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “This law will stop bias, encroachment and irregularities in Waqf properties.” He added that the ‘Umeed’ portal will allow digital registration of all Waqf properties in every state and union territory.
The government has made it mandatory for all Waqf properties to be registered on the portal within six months. Property details such as length, width, and geo-tagging will be required. “If registration is delayed due to technical reasons, an extra one or two months may be allowed,” a government official said.
If a property is not registered within the deadline, it will be treated as disputed and referred to the Waqf Tribunal. The government also stated that properties registered in the name of women cannot be declared as Waqf. The beneficiaries of Waqf properties are intended to be women, children, and the poor sections of society.
Despite the government’s claims, protests continue across the country. Social groups, Muslim organisations, and some political parties have demanded a ban on the amended law. One protester said, “This Act threatens the rights of our community and violates our trust.”
The amended Waqf Act received presidential approval in April after it was passed in both Houses of Parliament. In the Lok Sabha, 288 MPs supported the bill while 232 opposed it. In the Rajya Sabha, it passed with 128 votes for and 95 against.
The Modi government remains firm on implementing the new law and believes the ‘Umeed’ portal will improve management and prevent misuse of Waqf properties.
