Centre Notifies Waqf Rules 2025 On Portal & Database Of Waqf Properties, Audit & Accounts Etc
The Union Government on July 3 notified the "Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Rules, 2025", dealing with the portal and database of waqf properties, the manner of their registration, conduct of audit and maintenance of accounts, etc.
The rules have been framed in exercise of powers under Section 108B of the 1995 Act, which was inserted as per the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, which came into effect from April 8, 2025.
As per Section 108B, the Centre can make rules to provide for waqf asset management system, the registration, accounts, audit and other details of waqf and the manner of payments for maintenance of widow, divorced woman and orphans etc.
Portal and Database
The rules have provisions dealing with the portal and database for Waqf properties. The Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Minority Affairs in charge of the waqf division shall be responsible for the supervision and control of the portal and database.
The portal and database will autogenerate a unique identification number for each waqf and each property dedicated to the waqf for records which shall be authentic and can be used for all future references and to ensure tracking and monitoring of waqf and properties thereof in all States.
Every State Government must appoint an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to that Government as the Nodal Officer and shall establish a centralised support unit, in consultation with the Central Government for providing assistance in streamlining uploading details of waqf and properties thereof, registration, maintenance of accounts, audit and other related activities of the waqf and the Board.
Mutawalli to upload details of waqf
Every mutawalli must enrol on the portal and database by using his mobile number and e-mail address through authentication by one time password received from the portal and database on the mobile and e-mail and thereafter be able to access the portal and database and file details of his waqf and property dedicated to the waqf.
The inquiry into the wrongful declaration of any property as Waqf must be completed by the designated officer of the Government within one year of the refernece from the District Collector.
State to publish list of waqfs
After completion of survey, the State Government shall publish the list of auqaf which shall contain―
(a) the identification, boundaries of waqf properties;
(b) their use and occupier;
(c) details of the creator, mode and date of such creation;
(d) purpose of waqf;
(e) their present mutawalli and management.
The State Government must upload the notified list of auqaf and the details of each waqf on the portal and database, within a period of ninety days from the date of publication of the list in the Official Gazette, by an officer authorised by the State Government.
A waqf created after the commencement of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 (14 of 2025) shall make an application to the Board for its registration under section 36 of the Act within three months of its creation.
The rules also provide for the manner of providing maintenance to widows, divorced women or orphans.
Further, provisions have been made dealing with manner of keeping of accounts, conduct of audit, keeping of registers etc.
The Supreme Court has reserved orders on the plea of several petitioners to stay the operation of the Waqf Amendment Act 2025.