The Supreme Court on Friday agreed that various petitions, including one from the 'All India Muslim Personal Law Board', requesting an extension of the deadline for mandatory registration of all Waqf properties, including "Waqf by Usage," on the 'UMMID' portal, will be heard on December 1.
NEW DELHI: Petitions concerning the deadline for registration of Waqf properties in India will now be heard by the Supreme Court on December 1, 2025. The apex court has decided to hear the petitions filed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and other petitioners. These petitions seek an extension of the deadline for mandatory registration of all Waqf properties on the 'UMMID' portal.
PREPARATION FOR SUPREME COURT HEARING
A Supreme Court bench, presided over by Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Augustine George Masih, on Friday directed that these petitions be listed for December 1, 2025. The petitioners' counsel, Fuzail Ahmed Ayyubi, informed the court that an urgent hearing of these petitions is necessary to find a resolution before the deadline expires.
Currently, the six-month period for mandatory registration of Waqf properties is nearing its end. Consequently, several Muslim organizations and political figures have approached the Supreme Court regarding this matter.
WHO ARE THE PETITIONERS?
AIMPLB has played a prominent role in this matter. Additionally, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and other social and religious organizations are also among the petitioners. They have sought an extension of the deadline for the registration of all Waqf properties to ensure proper registration and address any potential issues.
On September 15, 2025, the Supreme Court had imposed an interim stay on certain key provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. During this time, the court stated that the provision allowing only those who have been practicing Islam for the past five years to create Waqf could be controversial. However, the court refused to stay the entire law, noting that some provisions of the amendment introduced by the Centre appeared constitutionally valid.
The Supreme Court also clarified that the Centre's order to remove the "Waqf by Usage" provision was not prima facie arbitrary. It also stated that the perception that Waqf properties would be seized by the government is invalid.
'UMMID' PORTAL AND DIGITAL REGISTRATION
The Central government launched the 'UMMID' (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development) portal on June 6, 2025. Through this portal, digital registration of all Waqf properties has been made mandatory. Under this initiative, Waqf properties across the country will be entered into a digital list through geo-tagging.
The objective of ensuring digital registration of Waqf properties is to enhance transparency, ensure proper utilization, and protect these properties. Under this, it is mandatory to upload the details of all registered Waqf properties on the portal within six months.
