Telangana Waqf properties digitization: Caretakers report application rejections on UMEED
Hearing a batch of petitions filed by residents, including R. Lakshman and Rajamoni Raju from Tukkuguda, the High Court asked the state to clarify whether due process under the Constitution had been followed.
By Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: The digitisation of Waqf properties in Telangana has hit a procedural snag, even as the March 12 deadline is fast approaching.
Mutawallis (caretakers) across the state have reported a surge in application rejections on the UMEED (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development) portal, often without any formal intimation or specific reasons provided.
Recent reviews by the Telangana State Waqf Board (TGSWB) revealed that while many caretakers receive a "submitted" status upon uploading documents, several of these files are being quietly rejected during internal verification. This "silent rejection" has left many custodians in the dark, fearing their properties might be labeled as "disputed" if the deadline expires before they can rectify the errors.
Key Challenges in Telangana
Lack of Communication: Applicants are currently required to manually log in to check for rejections, as no SMS or email alerts are sent.
Administrative Delays: Board members have noted that the disposal of files has been slowed by staff shortages and administrative bottlenecks at the CEO’s office.
Technical Literacy: Many rural Mutawallis are struggling with the digital-first requirements of the portal, leading to errors in document uploads.
The Waqf Board has urged the state government to streamline the process and ensure that the CEO’s office is fully dedicated to managing the portal’s heavy traffic as the final date nears.
Waqf Board chairman, Syed Azmatullah, has asked the department to ensure utmost caution while exercising the notifications of land parcels, as legal complications arising from these will make it difficult for the caretakers. Azmatullah says, "A ten-day deadline has been fixed by us to ensure that the work of registration and notifications to the caretakers is completed on time."
What is the UMEED Portal?
The UMEED Central Portal was launched on June 6, 2025, by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs as part of a nationwide initiative to modernize the management of Waqf assets.
The portal serves as a centralized digital registry designed to replace the aging, paper-based records of various State Waqf Boards. Its primary goals include:
Transparency: Eliminating "hidden" or duplicated records through a public-facing database.
Encroachment Prevention: Using geo-tagging and GIS mapping to protect land boundaries.
Efficiency: Streamlining the leasing and revenue tracking of properties to ensure funds are used for the welfare of the community (education, healthcare, and social justice).
The portal operates under the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act (an amendment to the Waqf Act, 1995). One of its most stringent provisions is the mandatory 6-month registration window.
