SC to Hear Pleas Seeking Extension for Waqf Property Registration on Oct 28
New Delhi, Oct 14: The Supreme Court has scheduled for October 28 the hearing of a plea filed by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, seeking an extension of time for the mandatory registration of all waqf properties, including waqf-by-users, under the UMEED portal.
A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was informed by lawyer Nizam Pasha that the plea required urgent listing as the six-month registration deadline was nearing its end.
Another similar plea was also mentioned on Tuesday for urgent hearing along with Owaisi’s petition. The bench said it would consider listing the fresh plea as well.
Earlier, on September 15, the top court had passed an interim order putting on hold certain provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 — including the clause stating that only those practising Islam for the last five years could create waqf — but it refused to stay the entire Act.
The court also observed that the Centre’s decision to delete the “waqf by user” clause in the amended law was not prima facie arbitrary, noting that fears of government land grabs held “no water.”
“Waqf by user” refers to a long-standing practice where property is considered a waqf due to its uninterrupted use for religious or charitable purposes, even without a formal declaration.
Pasha, appearing for Owaisi, had earlier stated that while six months were provided in the amended law for registration, “five months went during the judgment process, leaving just one month.”
The Centre had on June 6 launched the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal to create a digital inventory and geo-tag all waqf properties across India.
Under the mandate, all registered waqf properties are required to be uploaded on the UMEED portal within six months.
