Thousands of Waqf property managers and stakeholders rush to complete registrations on the UMEED portal; complaints of technical and documentation hurdles
LUCKNOW — Scores of people gathered at the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board office here on Thursday as the deadline for registering Waqf properties on the government’s UMEED portal drew to a close. With the registration window set to end on June 5, many applicants expressed concern that technical problems and document-related issues have prevented thousands of properties from being successfully registered.
The registration of Waqf properties on the UMEED portal was initiated by the Ministry of Minority Affairs as part of an effort to create a comprehensive digital record of Waqf assets. Although the deadline had already been extended once, many stakeholders say a significant number of properties remain unregistered.
As the final date approached, property managers, caretakers and representatives of Waqf institutions continued to visit the Sunni Waqf Board office to rectify errors and submit additional documents required for registration.
Many of those arriving at the office said their applications had previously been rejected on the portal due to various technical and documentation-related shortcomings. They are now attempting to complete the process before the deadline expires.
According to applicants, several registrations were rejected because of incomplete paperwork. In some cases, documents related to legal provisions under Section 37 were found to be missing, while in others, discrepancies were reported between land records such as khasra and khatauni entries. These issues have reportedly led to the rejection of a large number of applications.
The growing rush at the board office reflects concerns among Waqf stakeholders that failure to complete registration before the deadline could create uncertainty regarding the status of their properties.
Speaking to local media, one applicant whose property registration had been rejected earlier said, “Our property was rejected on the portal because some documents were said to be missing. We are now submitting all the required papers before the last date. If the deadline is extended, many more people will get relief.”
Several applicants argued that the process has proved challenging, particularly for those managing older Waqf properties where historical land records are not always readily available.
Another visitor at the Waqf Board office said, “Many people are still trying to collect the required documents. Some records are old and difficult to obtain. A three-month extension would help genuine applicants complete the registration process properly.”
Representatives of Waqf institutions and property managers have appealed to both the government and the Waqf Tribunal to extend the deadline by at least three months. They argue that such a step would allow those facing documentation issues to complete registration without the risk of their properties remaining outside the digital record.
Many applicants said the objective of maintaining accurate records of Waqf properties is important, but the registration process should also take into account practical difficulties faced by institutions managing thousands of properties spread across different districts.
Officials and stakeholders have been working in recent days to process pending applications and address deficiencies in documentation. However, concerns remain about the number of properties that may still be left unregistered once the deadline passes.
According to information shared by those associated with the registration process, around 32,000 properties linked to the Sunni Waqf Board and more than 3,000 properties associated with the Shia Waqf Board had earlier been rejected on the portal due to various issues. Many of these cases are now being reviewed after applicants submitted additional documents.
The final hours before the deadline have therefore become crucial for thousands of Waqf property managers seeking to secure registration of their assets.
Community representatives have stressed that Waqf properties serve religious, educational and charitable purposes and that sufficient time should be provided to ensure all genuine properties are properly recorded. They maintain that technical difficulties should not become a barrier preventing legitimate Waqf assets from being registered.
Observers say the situation highlights the scale and complexity of documenting Waqf properties, many of which have historical records dating back several decades. In such cases, verification and correction of records can take considerable time.
Attention is now focused on the outcome of registrations completed before midnight on June 5. Only after the deadline expires will it become clear how many Waqf properties have been successfully registered on the UMEED portal and how many remain outside the system.
There is also growing interest in whether the government will respond to the demand for an extension. As of Thursday evening, stakeholders continued to await any official announcement regarding a possible relaxation of the deadline.
For thousands of Waqf property managers across the state, the coming days are expected to determine whether additional time will be granted or whether the registration process will proceed under the existing schedule. Until then, board offices continue to witness a steady flow of applicants hoping to complete the formalities before the clock runs out.
