With the deadline approaching on Dec 6, a batch of petitions sought more time on various grounds, including technical glitches encountered in accessing the UMEED portal
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Monday refused to extend time for the mandatory registration of all waqf properties on the UMEED portal and asked those who have not done so to approach the tribunal constituted under Waqf (Amendment) Act, which has the power to extend the period by six months.Running against time to comply with registration as the deadline is to expire on Dec 6, a batch of petitions were filed in the apex court, including by All India Muslim Personal Law Board, for extension of time on various grounds including because of technical glitches encountered in accessing the portal. But the Centre strongly opposed the plea saying the Act states the extension can be granted by the waqf tribunal and aggrieved persons should approach it.Appearing before a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and A G Masih, senior advocates Kapil Sibal, A M Singhvi and M R Samshad said that so far, only around 1.6 lakh properties had been uploaded, and while the total number of such assets might be above 10 lakh, it would be difficult to upload details within the short span of time. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, however, said the court’s interference to extend the date would amount to amending the law itself which provided six months time. He also told SC the issue can be examined by the tribunal.Section 3B of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 says every waqf registered under this Act shall file the details of the waqf and the property dedicated to the waqf on the portal and database, within a period of six months from such commencement. It, however, provides 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.Taking note that the issue could be examined by the tribunal, the bench refused to extend the time. SC said that facing technical problems in uploading details of the properties would be a valid ground to seek a further six months time from the tribunal. “Technical glitch is a very good reason to seek extension from tribunal,” the bench said.The court had in Sept declined to stay many of the provisions under challenge in a batch of petitions challenging the amendments, including the requirement for all waqfs to be registered under section 3B, considering such a registration requirement was there earlier as well.
