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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Govt launches portal for Waqf properties
The Union government on Friday launched the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) portal, a centralised platform aimed at creating a digital inventory all Waqf properties, with minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju calling it a 'historic' move that would ensure Waqf assets are utilised effectively and fairly for poor Muslims. 'The UMEED portal will add a new chapter in the history of Waqf property management and administration in India. It will not only bring transparency but will also help the common Muslims, particularly women and children,' Rijiju said after launching the portal. He was accompanied by minister of state for minority affairs George Kurian. Calling it a historic step, Rijiju emphasised that the UMEED central portal — developed by the ministry of minority affairs — is more than just a technological upgrade. 'It is a symbol of the government's firm commitment to safeguarding the rights of minority communities and ensuring that community-owned Waqf assets are utilised effectively and fairly, for the poor Muslims, for whom, it was originally meant,' the Union minister said. The central portal, named after the eponymous UMEED Act of 1995, is intended to streamline the management of Waqf properties, ensure real-time data collection, and provide open access to verified information. It also aims to improve greater transparency, accountability, and public participation, officials familiar with the matter said, adding that all Waqf properties across the country are required to be registered on the portal within six months from the date of launch. Rijiju said that all state waqf board representatives, who participated in the portal launch virtually, have been informed to keep the six-month deadline in mind, while pointing out that not adhering to the same would cause additional delays and 'trouble' for the ministry. Registrations will be carried out by the respective state Waqf boards. Properties that remain unregistered beyond the deadline, and extension, if any, will be classified as disputed and referred to the Waqf tribunal, officials said. Ministry of minority affairs secretary Chandra Shekhar Kumar said the UMEED portal will mandate submission of official documents for registering a Waqf property, aiming to prevent the inclusion of 'illegal or encroached' land. For properties lacking such documentation, he added, the mutawalli will be required to approach the waqf tribunal for verification. Notably, the portal also includes a field that asks whether the waqf property is located on government land. 'Since land is a state subject, it will ultimately be up to the state government to confirm or deny whether the land in question is indeed waqf,' Kumar told HT. The portal launch comes in the backdrop of the enactment of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, on April 5 this year. Several petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf Act are pending before the Supreme Court. The development comes a day after the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) opposed the launch of the portal in view of the petitions against the Waqf law being pending before the apex court. Rijiju, however, said, 'I hope the court recognises that this is a landmark law, and it has now been enacted. The opposition must accept this fact and cooperate with the government to ensure smooth implementation. As for the Waqf rules, it is a natural process—we are actively working on it.' According to the guidelines, properties must be registered with detailed descriptions including dimensions, ownership documents, and geotagged locations. Properties recorded under the names of women will not be eligible to be declared as Waqf. Ministry secretary Kumar said that women, children, and economically weaker sections will be among the primary beneficiaries of Waqf assets. The portal generates a 17-digit unique identification number for each property. It features dropdown-based structured data input, integration with GIS mapping and e-Governance tools, and an online grievance redressal mechanism. Public users will have access to basic property information. A three-tier user verification process has been instituted. The 'Maker' is a mutawalli or an authorised person of the Waqf Board who will initiate data entry. The 'Checker' is a district-level officer or a designated official to verify the data. The 'Approver' is the CEO or another officer authorised by the State or UT Waqf Board who will grant final approval. All data on the portal will be governed by existing data protection and privacy regulations. A toll-free helpline has been made available for technical assistance and support.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Govt asks states to adhere to timelines after launch of Waqf portal
NEW DELHI: Only properties registered as waqf with the state boards will be able to upload their details for verification and get a 17-number unique ID on the new Central Waqf Portal launched by govt on Friday. This also applies to 'waqf by user' properties that existed prior to the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 coming into force on April 8. Sharing that there were over 9 lakh waqf properties in India, minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that states should follow the timelines strictly and the boards must ensure that details of all waqf properties registered with them are uploaded on the portal within the stipulated 6 months. 'All old properties that are in keeping with the law — titled and legitimate — will get included. Those that are illegal and without any documents will not get included. New waqf properties that get created going forward will be included in the database,' Rijiju said. According to officials, waqf properties that are not registered will need to approach their waqf boards to complete the process of registration. In the case of properties whose details are uploaded but which fail to get validated on the portal, there will be the option to approach the waqf tribunal for redressal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 새로 나온 '실비보험' 최적가 가입추천! "개인별 맞춤설계+할인혜택"… 굿리치 보험대리점 (등록번호:제2006038313호) 가격 받기 Undo On what happens to properties which have supposedly been used as waqf but lack documents to prove so, Rijiju said: 'Such waqf properties that do not have adequate documents but which are recognised socially and by govt and are working, we are not declaring them illegal. The issues are only with those kinds of properties which have been acquired forcefully, fraudulently, or do not have proper supportive documents or provisions. Moreover, the law does not prevent anyone from performing any religious rituals....' He, however, emphasised that going forward all waqf properties will need to fix whatever is missing in their documentation in order to come on board. On the portal, the entry of property details by the Mutawalli (caretaker) will be followed by validation by waqf boards and approval by designated govt authorities, after verification of records, to enable its entry into the 'UMEED' (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act 1995) portal. For the wide-ranging details related to any property, the portal also requires the Muttawali to give a declaration before uploading them. This includes questions like 'have you failed to maintain regular accounts for two consecutive years or submit for two consecutive years the yearly statement of accounts as per law; have you been convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment of less than two years; and are you part of any unlawful organisation under UAPA'. Key features of the portal include creation of a digital inventory with geo-tagging of all waqf properties, online grievance redressal system, transparent leasing and usage tracking, integration with GIS mapping and public access to verified records and reports. Pointing out that there was no stay on the law by the judiciary, Rijiju stressed that the portal in no way violates the law or the Constitution. The minister was responding to All India Muslim Personal Law Board's statement that it will challenge the legal validity of the portal in the Supreme Court where the law is under scrutiny.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Ministry of Minority Affairs launches centralised digital platform for real-time monitoring of Waqf properties
New Delhi Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Friday (June 6, 2025) launched the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal, a centralised digital platform for real-time uploading, verification, and monitoring of Waqf properties. The Minister said the portal will bring about a paradigm shift in administration of Waqf assets by introducing greater transparency, accountability, and public participation. 'The UMEED portal will add a new chapter in the history of Waqf property management and administration in India. It will not only bring transparency but will also help common Muslims, particularly women and children,' said Mr. Rijiju. Developed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the UMEED will feature a digital inventory with geo-tagging of all Waqf properties. Other key features include an online grievance redressal system for better responsiveness and integration with GIS mapping and other e-Governance tools, the Ministry said, adding the portal will also provide the public access to verified records and reports related to the Waqf. Terming the portal a historic step, Mr. Rijiju emphasised that the UMEED was more than just a technological upgrade. 'It is a symbol of the government's firm commitment to safeguarding the rights of minority communities and ensuring that community owned Waqf assets are utilised effectively and fairly, for poor Muslims, for whom it was originally meant,' he added. George Kurian, Minister of State for Minority Affairs, said that the portal was a long-awaited reform that will curb misuse and bring Waqf administration closer to the people. 'The system ensures that every property is accounted for and used in accordance with the purpose it was endowed,' he added. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry, said that he expected the UMEED portal to become the backbone of digital Waqf governance, thereby ensuring that Waqf assets contribute meaningfully to education, healthcare, livelihood generation and social welfare, especially for underprivileged sections within the Muslim community.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Govt launches UMEED portal, Rijiju says it'll add new chapter in history of Waqf property management
The government has launched the UMEED portal, a digital platform for managing Waqf properties, aimed at improving transparency and efficiency. Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju hailed it as a historic step for the benefit of poor Muslims. The portal will create a geo-tagged digital inventory and offer online grievance redressal. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The government on Friday launched the UMEED portal that would create a digital inventory after geo-tagging of all Waqf properties with Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju calling it a historic step that would ensure that community-owned Waqf assets are utilised effectively and fairly for poor UMEED central portal, short for Unified Waqf Management , Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995 will serve as a centralised digital platform for real-time uploading, verification, and monitoring of Waqf properties."The UMEED portal will add a new chapter in the history of Waqf property management and administration in India. It will not only bring transparency but will also help the common Muslims, particularly women and children," Rijiju said after launching the UMEED central portal, developed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, was officially inaugurated in the presence of Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George it a historic step, Rijiju emphasised that the UMEED central portal is more than just a technological upgrade."It is a symbol of the government's firm commitment to safeguarding the rights of minority communities and ensuring that community-owned Waqf assets are utilised effectively and fairly, for the poor Muslims, for whom, it was originally meant," he in a post on X, he said, "A momentous occasion to launch the 'UMEED' Central Portal (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency & Development Act, 1995) in New Delhi today. MoS @GeorgekurianBjp, officials of @MOMAIndia, States, UTs & Waqf Boards attended online. It's a big step towards better administration & management of Waqf properties across India."The portal aims to improve greater transparency, accountability, and public participation. The key features of the portal include the creation of a digital inventory with geo-tagging of all Waqf also includes an online grievance redressal system for better responsiveness and transparent leasing and usage portal also involves integration with GIS mapping and other e-governance tools and public access to verified records and the gathering, Kurian said the portal is a long-awaited reform that will curb misuse and bring the Waqf administration closer to the people."The system ensures that every property is accounted for and used in accordance with the purpose it was endowed for," he of Minority Affairs Secretary Chandra Shekhar Kumar said he expected the UMEED portal to become the backbone of digital Waqf governance, thereby ensuring that the Waqf assets contribute meaningfully to education, healthcare, livelihood generation and social welfare, especially for underprivileged sections within the Muslim this week, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board had opposed the launch of the portal in view of the petitions against the Waqf (Amendment) Act being pending before the Supreme of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said the new Waqf law introduced by the government is currently under consideration in the Supreme Court and added that all Muslim organisations have rejected it."Opposition parties, human rights organisations, as well as Sikh, Christian, and other minority communities have also declared it unacceptable. However, it is unfortunate that despite this, the government is launching the "Waqf Umeed portal" from June 6 and is making the registration of waqf properties mandatory through it. This action is entirely illegal and clearly constitutes contempt of court," the AIMPLB had said in its statement.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
'New chapter': Govt launches UMEED portal for Waqf property management
The government on Friday launched the UMEED portal that would create a digital inventory after geo-tagging of all Waqf properties with Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju calling it a historic step that would ensure that community-owned Waqf assets are utilised effectively and fairly for poor Muslims. The UMEED central portal, short for Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995 will serve as a centralised digital platform for real-time uploading, verification, and monitoring of Waqf properties. "The UMEED portal will add a new chapter in the history of Waqf property management and administration in India. It will not only bring transparency but will also help the common Muslims, particularly women and children," Rijiju said after launching the UMEED central portal. The portal, developed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, was officially inaugurated in the presence of Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian. Calling it a historic step, Rijiju emphasised that the UMEED central portal is more than just a technological upgrade. "It is a symbol of the government's firm commitment to safeguarding the rights of minority communities and ensuring that community-owned Waqf assets are utilised effectively and fairly, for the poor Muslims, for whom, it was originally meant," he said. Later, in a post on X, he said, "A momentous occasion to launch the 'UMEED' Central Portal (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency & Development Act, 1995) in New Delhi today. MoS @GeorgekurianBjp, officials of @MOMAIndia, States, UTs & Waqf Boards attended online. It's a big step towards better administration & management of Waqf properties across India." The portal aims to improve greater transparency, accountability, and public participation. The key features of the portal include the creation of a digital inventory with geo-tagging of all Waqf properties. It also includes an online grievance redressal system for better responsiveness and transparent leasing and usage tracking. The portal also involves integration with GIS mapping and other e-governance tools and public access to verified records and reports. Addressing the gathering, Kurian said the portal is a long-awaited reform that will curb misuse and bring the Waqf administration closer to the people. "The system ensures that every property is accounted for and used in accordance with the purpose it was endowed for," he said. Ministry of Minority Affairs Secretary Chandra Shekhar Kumar said he expected the UMEED portal to become the backbone of digital Waqf governance, thereby ensuring that the Waqf assets contribute meaningfully to education, healthcare, livelihood generation and social welfare, especially for underprivileged sections within the Muslim community. Earlier this week, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board had opposed the launch of the portal in view of the petitions against the Waqf (Amendment) Act being pending before the Supreme Court. President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said the new Waqf law introduced by the government is currently under consideration in the Supreme Court and added that all Muslim organisations have rejected it. "Opposition parties, human rights organisations, as well as Sikh, Christian, and other minority communities have also declared it unacceptable. However, it is unfortunate that despite this, the government is launching the "Waqf Umeed portal" from June 6 and is making the registration of waqf properties mandatory through it. This action is entirely illegal and clearly constitutes contempt of court," the AIMPLB had said in its statement.
