The Uttar Pradesh State Waqf Tribunal has granted a six-month extension to the U.P. Sunni Central Waqf Board for uploading details of Waqf properties on the UMEED Portal. The Tribunal, acknowledging the persistent technical issues faced by the Board, extended the deadline from December 6, 2025, to June 5, 2026. The order was passed by a bench comprising Chairman Prahlad Singh-II (H.J.S.) and Member Ram Suresh Verma (I.A.S.) in U.P. Sunni Central Waqf Board vs. Known.
Background of the Case
The U.P. Sunni Central Waqf Board filed an application under Section 3B(1) of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995 (as amended by the Amendment Act, 2025) read with Rule 6(3) of the UMEED Rules, 2025. The Board sought an extension of time to file details of Waqf properties situated in Uttar Pradesh on the dedicated central portal and database.
The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Amendment Act, 2025, which came into force on April 8, 2025, mandates under Section 3B that every Waqf registered prior to the commencement of the Amendment Act must file details of the Waqf and its dedicated properties on the portal within six months. The statutory six-month period expired on December 6, 2025.
Arguments by the Board
The Applicant Board, represented by counsel Sh. Syed Aftab Ahmad assisted by Sh. hamza ahmad and Sh. Mohd. Tariq Saeed, submitted that despite consistent attempts, the uploading process could not be completed due to the “extremely large volume of Waqf properties” in Uttar Pradesh, which runs into several lakhs. The Board emphasized that verifying precise boundaries, revenue records, and litigation status for each property is a time-consuming process.
Crucially, the Board highlighted severe technical impediments on the official UMEED Portal (umeed.minorityaffairs.gov.in). The application stated that the portal “remained non-functional most of the time” and suffered from “persistent technical glitches faced by Makers, Checkers and Approvers.” Specific issues cited included:
- Frequent server breakdowns.
- Login failures at the Checker and Approver stages.
- Delay or non-receipt of OTPs.
- Session timeouts after 20 minutes without a data-saving option (a snag only resolved in October 2025).
The Board further submitted that it had communicated these issues to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, through various letters. While the Joint Secretary of the Ministry issued a communication on December 4, 2025, extending the deadline marginally to December 6, 2025, it was clarified that further extension must be sought from the Waqf Tribunal under Section 3B(1).
The applicant also pointed out that similar extensions had already been granted by the Waqf Tribunals of Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. Furthermore, reference was made to a proceeding before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on December 1, 2025, where the Court observed that the remedy for seeking extension lies before the Waqf Tribunal.
Tribunal’s Analysis and Observations
The Tribunal examined the provisions of Section 3B of the Amendment Act, 2025. The proviso to Section 3B states:
“Provided that the Tribunal may, on an application made to it by the Mutawalli, extend such period of six months under this section for a further period not exceeding six months as it may consider appropriate, if he satisfies the Tribunal that he had sufficient cause for not filing the details of the Waqf on the portal within such period”.
The Tribunal noted that the initial statutory period had expired and that numerous Waqf properties remained to be uploaded. Accepting the Board’s submissions regarding technical difficulties, the Tribunal observed:
“It appears that the issues which have come in the way of the process of uploading the data and details of the waqf properties were beyond the control of the stakeholders. So, they are considered as sufficient causes for causing the impediment in the process of completion of updation within the initial six months.”
The Court further noted that non-completion of the process could cause “adverse legal consequences and affect the interests of the Auqaf.” The Tribunal also acknowledged the peculiar situation where thousands of Waqfs have no functioning Mutawalli or Managing Committee, necessitating additional time for the Board to collect and verify information.
Decision
Finding that the applicant had shown sufficient cause, the Tribunal allowed the application in the interest of justice.
The Order stated:
“Consequently, the further six months, from 06.12.2025 to 05.06.2026, is granted for the completion of the process of uploading the details of Waqf and their properties situated within the territory of the State of Uttar Pradesh and registered in the office of the U.P. Sunni Central Waqf Board prior to the commencement of the Act 2025, on the UMEED Portal.”
Case Details:
- Case Title: U.P. Sunni Central Waqf Board vs. Known
- Case Number: Waqf Misc. Application No. 51 of 2025
- Coram: Sh. Prahlad Singh-II (Chairman) and Sh. Ram Suresh Verma (Member)
