Custodians and managers of waqf institutions are gradually coming to terms with the UMEED portal, which mandates the uploading of waqf-related documents, following initial hesitation and confusion.
The Telangana State Waqf Board (TGWB) and other organisations have been conducting awareness sessions to educate mutawallis (managers) on the significance of the portal and the possible legal consequences of non-compliance.
“So far, two workshops have been held with mutawallis and members of managing committees of waqf institutions in connection with the portal,” said Syed Akbar Nizamuddin Hussaini, office-bearer of the Anjum-e-Mutawalliyan-o-Sajjadagan-o-Khidmatguzaraan-e-Waqf Telangana Andhra Pradesh, a body representing mutawallis. “There continues to be some mistrust and insecurity regarding the new waqf amendment act and the UMEED portal. But after consistent engagement, many now recognise the difficulties they could face if documents are not uploaded.”
The apprehension among mutawallis stems from their belief that the TGWB, as the official record-keeper, should already possess documents establishing a property’s nature as waqf. The responsibility of submission, therefore, should rest with the Board.
While the Anjuman says it has largely succeeded in allaying fears, it continues to urge mutawallis to gather every available document that could establish an institution’s waqf nature before courts or other competent authorities.
Despite these efforts, certain ambiguities remain and have been conveyed to the TGWB. These concerns are likely to be raised at the South India Workshop on UMEED organised by the Union government in Bengaluru on October 6.
For instance, the granularity of questions in the portal, and seeking declarations on whether an applicant has been convicted or imprisoned have caused unease, those familiar with the issue said. The continued existence of multiple land records and data across departments has further complicated the process. “Some court judgments have held that town survey land records are insufficient to prove a property is waqf. Then there is the issue of which records take precedence in urban and rural areas,” Maulana Hussaini, who is also a TGWB member, said. “We have advised mutawallis and committee members to approach the State Archives, TGWB, and other agencies to obtain documents such as muntakhabs and waqfnamahs. We are urging them to make pdfs of these and upload them on the portal.”
Even as the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) remains opposed in principle to the UMEED portal, it has decided to educate waqf managers about its functioning. The AIMPLB has appointed Maulana Hussaini as convener of a committee to conduct workshops and public outreach programmes on navigating the portal.
Published – October 05, 2025 09:59 am IST
