Staffed with technical experts, a help desk at the Islamic Centre of India in Lucknow is assisting Mutawallis with the online registration process
NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW — As the deadline for registering Waqf properties under the newly implemented Waqf Amendment Act draws closer, tension and anxiety are growing among Mutawallis (caretakers) across Uttar Pradesh. The government has made online registration of all Waqf properties mandatory on the Umeed Portal, setting 5 December as the final date — but the process has left thousands of Mutawallis struggling.
The controversial law, which has already faced a legal challenge, came under further spotlight after the Supreme Court refused to stay its implementation, effectively compelling the registration process to continue. For many Mutawallis, especially in rural districts, the digital procedure has proven nearly impossible to navigate.
“We don’t know how to use this portal. Most of us don’t even have smartphones or internet access,” said Mohammad Aslam, a Mutawalli from Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, while waiting outside the help desk in Lucknow. “The government should understand our situation and give us more time.”
The Sunni Waqf Board has established a help desk at the Islamic Centre of India in Lucknow. The facility will remain open until 5 December and is staffed with technical experts to assist Mutawallis with the online registration process.
“Our aim is to ensure that no property remains unregistered simply because of technical issues,” said Dr Khalid Rasheed, Chairman of the Islamic Centre of India. “We are helping Mutawallis register their properties correctly and avoid any future legal problems.”
However, despite the assistance, the scale of the task remains daunting. The Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board has around 15,386 properties, but only 100 have been registered so far. The Sunni Central Waqf Board, with 120,451 properties, has managed to register just 150.
Many Mutawallis argue that the deadline is unrealistic. “The process is complicated and new to us. How can we register so many properties in such a short time?” asked Syed Raza Hussain, a Mutawalli from Bareilly. “The government should extend the deadline for at least two years.”
There is also growing concern about what will happen if the properties are not registered by the set date. Neither the Shia Waqf Board nor the Sunni Waqf Board has received clear instructions from the government regarding possible penalties or actions after 5 December.
“People are worried that unregistered Waqf properties might be seized or declared invalid,” said Maulana Nizamuddin, a religious scholar from Lucknow. “This has created panic among Mutawallis who have been serving these properties for generations.”
Legal experts say the lack of clarity in the government’s communication is making the situation worse. Advocate Irfan Ahmad, who specialises in Waqf matters, said, “The government should issue a proper guideline or circular explaining the consequences of missing the deadline. Leaving it vague is unfair to the Mutawallis.”
The controversy over the Waqf Amendment Act has already raised suspicions among Muslim organisations, who fear that the move may be part of a broader attempt to control or weaken the Waqf system. “Instead of supporting us, the authorities are making it more difficult for us to preserve our religious properties,” said Haji Rashid, a community leader in Kanpur.
For now, help desks like the one in Lucknow are proving to be a lifeline for Mutawallis struggling with the process. Experts at these centres are guiding them step by step, ensuring that their ancestral Waqf lands and institutions are not lost due to technical hurdles.
As the deadline approaches, one thing is clear: the digital registration process meant to bring transparency has instead brought anxiety and confusion among Uttar Pradesh’s Muslim caretakers. Without urgent government intervention and an extension of the deadline, many fear their properties — symbols of centuries-old Islamic heritage — may face uncertain future.
