Kolkata, 3 December (H.S.):

Nearly 50% of West Bengal’s 82,600 Waqf properties have been registered on the Centre’s ‘Umeed’ portal, and the remaining records will be uploaded soon. This was confirmed by a senior government official on Wednesday.

Last week, the state government directed all District Magistrates to ensure that details of every Waqf property in the state are uploaded onto the central portal by Friday, along with submission of the compiled report. These properties fall under a total of 8,063 Waqf estates across the state.

Waqf Board Chairman and former judge Sahidullah Munshi said, “Nearly 50% of estate details have already been uploaded to the portal. If the deadline cannot be met, we will stand by the mutawallis (caretakers of the estates).”

Although the official did not elaborate on alternatives, board insiders revealed that the Supreme Court has not extended the deadline. However, it has allowed one legal option — if the registration is not completed on time, the state Waqf Tribunal may be approached with a plea for an extension.

According to the board, such a plea can only be filed after the central portal closes on December 5.

A state minister involved in Waqf-related affairs expressed optimism, saying, “There is hope that the deadline will be extended, as the Supreme Court has indicated some scope.”

The Trinamool Congress has been strongly opposing the Waqf Amendment Act 2025. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has assured minority communities that the Act will not be implemented in West Bengal.

Board sources further said that while several Waqf-related cases are pending before the Supreme Court, there is no stay order on the ongoing registration of property details. The court has issued interim stays on some sections of the Act, but the registration process continues with legal clarity.

The uploading of Waqf property details on the central portal began on June 6.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh