Did Telangana Minister Azharuddin Support the Extension for Waqf Property Registration?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Extension of deadline allows more time for Waqf property registration.
- Challenges faced by mutawallis include technical issues and historical documentation.
- Importance of transparency in managing Waqf properties.
- Only 151,000 properties registered out of millions.
- Opportunity for improved community asset management.
Hyderabad, Dec 5 (NationPress) Telangana’s Minister for Minority Welfare, Mohammed Azharuddin, expressed his approval on Friday regarding the announcement made by Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, to prolong the deadline for registering Waqf properties on the UMEED Portal.
Azharuddin encouraged the Telangana Waqf Board and all mutawallis (custodians) to utilize this additional period and ensure that their entries are completed promptly.
“This decision plays a crucial role in safeguarding our Waqf properties, enhancing transparency, and ensuring that the citizens of Telangana continue to receive the benefits and support provided by these institutions,” the minister shared on X.
The original deadline for Waqf property registration on the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal was set to conclude on Friday. However, Kiren Rijiju announced that there will be no penalties for three months for those who miss the deadline, allowing them to approach Waqf Tribunals in their respective states.
State Waqf boards and property mutawallis have encountered challenges such as portal crashes, difficulties in locating documents related to properties that are centuries old, and discrepancies in land measurements across different states.
Rijiju pointed out that millions of Waqf properties remain unregistered. Numerous MPs and leaders from various states have informed him that there are complications in registering 900,000 Waqf properties.
As per the Union Minister's statement, only 151,000 Waqf properties have been recorded on the portal thus far.
Telangana’s Chief Minister, A. Revanth Reddy, also made a request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend the deadline for registering Waqf properties on the portal by an additional year.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister last month, the Chief Minister emphasized that the extension is vital for ensuring a thorough and error-free registration of all Waqf properties in the state. He noted that the process has been hindered by technical issues, scattered archival records, and the need to verify the authenticity of documents that are over a century old.
“This extension will allow the Telangana Waqf Board and all related institutions to carry out the registration process transparently, accurately, and in full compliance with the objectives of the UMEED initiative,” he stated.
The Chief Minister pointed out three significant challenges that have impeded the data entry process. Firstly, many mutawallis lack familiarity with the technical aspects of the online portal. Secondly, a substantial number of Waqf records in Telangana are over a century old and spread across various government departments, making the digitization of these records a complex and time-consuming task to ensure their authenticity.
Additionally, he mentioned that repeated technical glitches have disrupted the smooth functioning of the UMEED portal.