Supreme Court Refuses To List Application Against 'Umeed Portal', Says Will Consider In Waqf Amendment Act Challenge

The Supreme Court today (August 22) refused urgent listing of an application seeking the suspension of the 'Umeed Portal' launched by the Union Government for the online registration of waqfs, including waqfs-by-user.

The Court orally said that it will consider this issue in its pending decision on the plea to stay the operation of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. "You register it, nobody is refusing you from registration ....we will be considering that part," Chief Justice of India BR Gavai told Advocate Sharukh Alam who mentioned the application for listing.

Alam stated that the registration conditions cannot be fulfilled by 'waqf by user' at this stage. "Union has launched Umeed Waqf Portal - requires mandatory registration of all waqfs, including waqfs by users; requirements are such that waqf by users cannot be fulfilled at such a stage." 

She added that an application was filed seeking directions from the Court in that regard, but the registry refused to list, considering that the judgment is now reserved. 

"We sought to file an IA for directions, but the registry is not allowing it. saying that judgment is reserved."

CJI added, "We have already reserved the matter"

Notably, on May 22, the Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih reserved an interim order on the plea to stay the operation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025.

Counsel stressed that "the problem is that the clock is ticking, and they have given a 6-month period." 

CJI suggested that the users can proceed to register their waqfs on the portal and clarified that the bench would be considering the issue in its decision. The CJI said :

"You register it, nobody is refusing you from registration ....we will be considering that part". 

Several petitions and interventions had been filed challenging the recent Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. 

Omission of 'waqf by user' provision, inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Board, limiting the inclusion of women members to two in the Council and Boards, pre-condition of 5 years as practising Muslim for create of waqf, diluting waqf-alal-aulad, renaming 'Waqf Act, 1995 to "Unifed Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development," appeal against the Tribunal's order, allowing Government to disputes regarding encroachment of government property, application of Limitation Act to Waqf Act, invalidating Waqf created over ASI protected monuments, restrictions on creating Waqfs over scheduled areas etc., are some of the provisons under challenge.