Union Minister Kiren Rijiju unveils UMEED portal to digitize and monitor waqf properties. Portal ensures transparency, real-time data, and public access to waqf land records.
New Delhi: Today, on June 06, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, on Friday, launched a new digital portal called the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) portal.
This platform is made to bring transparency, proper management, and accountability in the handling of waqf properties across India.
ALSO READ:AIMPLB to Move Supreme Court Against Centre’s Waqf Umeed Portal Launch, Calls It Contempt
Waqf properties are charitable assets meant for the welfare of the Muslim community, especially for helping the poor, women, and children.
While launching the portal, Minister Rijiju said,
“We are taking a firm step toward ensuring that waqf properties are used for the benefit of the intended communities.”
He also added that this portal is a symbol of commitment towards better governance and transparency.
The portal is designed to collect real-time data and provide open access to verified information about waqf properties.
It aims to make the entire process more efficient by bringing all stakeholders onto one digital platform. These include waqf boards, mutawallis (managers of waqf properties), and government officials.
All waqf properties in the country must be registered on the UMEED portal within six months from the date of its launch.
Kiren Rijiju also told the state waqf board members who attended the launch event online that they should make sure the registration process is completed within the given time limit.
If a property is not registered within six months, a two-month extension may be allowed only in special situations like technical issues.
If the property is still not registered even after the extension, it will be marked as “disputed” and referred to the Waqf Tribunal for further action.
Chandra Shekhar Kumar, the Minority Affairs Secretary, also spoke during the launch. He said that the new portal will help in preventing illegal occupation of waqf land by allowing document submission for every property.
He added,
“Since land is a state subject, it will ultimately be up to the state governments to confirm or deny whether the land in question is indeed waqf.” He also said that the most vulnerable people like “women, children, and economically weaker sections will be among the primary beneficiaries of Waqf assets.”
The portal asks whether the property being registered is located on government land. This step is important because it comes just a few weeks after the Waqf (Amendment) Act was passed in Parliament.
However, the law has been challenged in the Supreme Court of India, and the case is still pending.
On April 17, the Supreme Court refused to stop the implementation of the new law after the central government told the court that it will not enforce certain parts of the law for the time being.
When asked about the legal challenges, Kiren Rijiju said that he would not comment since the matter is currently in court.
But he added,
“I hope the court recognises that this is a landmark law… The opposition must accept this 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.”
The portal has many key features. It requires full details of each waqf property, such as land size, boundaries, and a geotagged location.
A unique 17-digit identification number will be generated for each property using the state code, district code, and property type. The properties that are in the name of women will not be allowed to be declared as waqf.
The registration process on the portal will have a three-tier verification system. First, the mutawalli or an authorized waqf board member will fill in the details.
Second, a district officer or a nominated official will check the data. Finally, the CEO of the waqf board or another high-ranking officer will approve the information.
The portal will also have an online grievance redressal system, which allows the public to raise any concerns.
Citizens will be able to view the registered property data, making the process more transparent. All data entered on the portal will be protected under data privacy laws.
A toll-free helpline has been set up to help users with any technical issues or support needs.
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Waqf
