The petition says the central government’s new online system has serious faults that stop Waqf records from being uploaded, causing pressure on Muslim managers
NEW DELHI — A Mutawalli from Madhya Pradesh has gone to the Supreme Court saying the central government’s new UMEED Portal has become a serious hurdle for Waqf registration. He says the portal is full of faults and has made the lives of Muslim Waqf managers across the country extremely difficult.
The petition has been filed under Article 32 and challenges the rule that makes it compulsory to upload all Waqf records on the portal under Section 3B of the Unified Waqf Management Empowerment Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
The petitioner has clearly stated that the system made by the central government, based on rules notified in 2025, is not working the way it should. He says there are many technical problems that stop Waqf institutions from uploading documents and information.
Speaking about the situation, the Mutawalli said, “We want to follow every rule, but the portal does not allow us to do even basic uploading. We are being blamed for something that is not our fault.”
He further said that the portal does not match the Waqf laws and the working system of many states, especially Madhya Pradesh, which has made the task almost impossible. “The system does not understand how Waqf work is done in our state. It is unfair to force us to use a tool that does not function,” he added.
Many Mutawallis across the country have been complaining about the same issue. They say the portal crashes again and again, documents do not upload, and the system often rejects files without any reason.
A Waqf manager from Bhopal said, “We are trying day and night, but the site stops working again and again. How can we finish our work when the government’s own portal keeps failing?”
The Mutawalli has asked the Supreme Court to stop the use of the Umeed Portal in its present form. He wants the court to tell the central government to fix all problems first.
The plea says, “Punishing Muslim institutions for not uploading records on a faulty system is unjust.”
The petition demands the following:
• The portal should be declared defective in its current state.
• The government should repair the technical faults or create a separate system for surveyed and gazetted Waqf properties in Madhya Pradesh.
• No Waqf institution should face punishment under Section 61 until the system becomes fully functional.
• Manual or other safe methods for submitting records should be allowed.
• The present status of Waqf property records should remain unchanged while the case is being heard.
Just last week, the Supreme Court declined to extend the overall deadline for uploading Waqf details. The court said Waqf institutions that needed more time could ask their local Waqf Tribunal. But now, with this new petition pointing to the portal’s technical faults, the subject has again gained national attention.
A senior lawyer familiar with Waqf cases said, “If the system itself does not work, what are Waqf bodies supposed to do? The court will have to look at this seriously.”
Several members of the Muslim community say they have been trying to cooperate with the government but feel that the digital push has been done without preparation.
A Mutawalli from Indore said, “We are not refusing the digital process. We only want a working system. Muslims should not be blamed for delays caused by the government’s own faults.”
Many Muslims believe the burden placed on Waqf institutions is unnecessary and shows a lack of understanding of how these charitable properties are managed.
The Supreme Court will soon decide whether the portal should be paused while the problems are fixed. The outcome will directly affect thousands of Waqf properties across the country and the managers responsible for them.
For now, Mutawallis are hoping that the court hears their pain and gives relief from what they say is an unfair and faulty system.
