SC rejects plea alleging glitches in UMEED waqf portal, grants liberty to approach authorities
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a petition filed by a waqf mutawalli alleging technical and structural deficiencies in the Centre’s UMEED portal meant for uploading details of waqf properties.
Observing that the issues raised were largely administrative in nature, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi dismissed the plea.
The bench, however, granted the liberty to petitioner Hashmat Ali, a mutawalli (caretaker) of a waqf, to approach the appropriate authorities for redressal of grievances.
“We see no ground to entertain this writ petition. The petitioner may be well advised to approach the prescribed authority for clarification or addressing of grievances for which liberty is granted,” the CJI said in the order.
At the outset, the CJI questioned the maintainability of the plea on the ground as to why it was filed in the top court directly. “Why did you not approach the high court?” the CJI asked.
Senior advocate Maneka Guruswamy, appearing for Ali, said the high court was unlikely to entertain the matter since challenges to the 2025 amendments to the Waqf law were already pending before the top court.
However, the CJI noted that the present petition did not raise any substantive constitutional challenge to the amendments, but was instead focused on “administrative difficulties” in using the portal. Such grievances, the court said, could be addressed by the high court or the authorities concerned.
The senior lawyer said apart from technical glitches, the petition also raised concerns regarding the classification of waqfs under the Waqf Rules, 2025.
She said that the category of 'Waqf by survey' had been subsumed under 'Waqf by user,' and that the UMEED Portal did not provide any separate option for 'Waqf by survey' in its drop-down menu.
Justice Bagchi noted that the ministry had clarified that 'Waqf by survey' stood subsumed within the 'Waqf by user' category.
Ali, a mutawalli from Madhya Pradesh, challenged the enforceability of the digital uploading mandate under Section 3B of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
The petitioner alleged that the UMEED portal, notified under the UMEED Rules, 2025, was structurally defective and technologically unfit for registering waqf properties.
On December 1 last year, the top court had refused to extend time for the mandatory registration of all waqf properties, including 'waqf by user', under the UMEED portal.
The Centre launched the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Act central portal on June 6 to create a digital inventory after geo-tagging all waqf properties.
According to the mandate of the UMEED portal, details of all registered waqf properties across India are to be mandatorily uploaded within six months.
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Udupi gears up for 'Paryaya Mahotsava' as Shiroor Matha takes over Sri Krishna Temple
Udupi (Karnataka) (PTI): The coastal temple town of Udupi will witness the biennial 'Paryaya Mahotsava' in the early hours of January 18, marking the ceremonial transfer of ritual and administrative control of the Sri Krishna Temple to Shiroor Matha.
Sri Vedavardhana Tirtha Swamiji of Shiroor Matha will assume charge as the pontiff-administrator of the temple for the 2026-28 term, authorities said.
Several religious heads and prominent leaders, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, are expected to attend.
Over two lakh devotees are expected, with annadana arranged for about 40,000 people on the night of January 17 and 50,000 the following day.
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The 'Paryaya' system is a rotational arrangement under which the temple is managed by the eight Ashta Mathas—Pejavara, Puttige, Adamaru, Krishnapura, Shiroor, Sodhe, Kaniyoor and Palimaru—each taking charge for two years.
The system was instituted by 13th-century philosopher-saint Sri Madhwacharya, founder of the Dvaita school of philosophy.
The 'mahotsava' will begin with the incoming pontiff taking a ritual holy dip at Dandatirtha near Kapu at 1.15 am, followed by a grand procession from Jodukatte at 2 am.
The procession, marked by chanting, traditional music and folk performances, will pass through Car Street before dawn.
Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna said elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the event.
The 'Paryaya Mahotsava' symbolises the continuity of Madhwacharya’s model of collective religious governance, which has shaped Udupi as a major centre of Vaishnavite worship, learning and community life for over centuries.
