Major Relief for Waqf Property Registration on Umeed Portal: Kiren Rijiju Grants Three-Month Extension

Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, announced on Friday that the central government will not impose penalties or take strict action against mutawallis (managers of Waqf properties) who register their properties on the Umeed portal under the Waqf Act for the next three months after the registration deadline. Speaking to reporters, Rijiju said that several MPs and social leaders had requested an extension of the deadline, which is December 5, but the Supreme Court refused to grant it after the initial six-month period. The Union Minister urged the mutawallis to approach the tribunal, as under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, the tribunal has the power to grant an extension. Kiren Rijiju said, “After the enactment of the Waqf Act, we launched the ‘Umeed’ portal, and the concerned parties were given six months to register all Waqf properties on the portal. Today is the last day, and millions of properties are still unregistered. Several MPs and social leaders came to me requesting an extension of the deadline. So far, more than 1.5 lakh Waqf properties have been registered on the ‘Umeed’ portal.” He added, “I assure all mutawallis that for the next three months, we will not impose any penalties or take any strict action against those who register on the ‘Umeed’ portal. If you are unable to register, I request you to approach the tribunal. The Supreme Court, in its directions, had clarified that the date cannot be extended after the six-month deadline, but the tribunal has the power to extend it for another six months.”