Sagir Ahmed Ansari
The Gujarat State Waqf Tribunal has granted an extension for completing registrations on the Umeed Portal. The order comes at a critical time, with more than 2,500 properties having only initiated the process and many more yet to begin due to documentation gaps and lack of procedural clarity.
A community-led petition was filed before the Tribunal on Friday, followed by a petition from the Gujarat State Waqf Board on Saturday. While both petitions contributed to highlighting the urgency, community leaders emphasise that the focus must now shift from “whose petition” to “how effectively the extension is utilised.”
The extension provides a window of opportunity, but experts caution that such momentum often fades within a few days. Without structured planning and continuous monitoring, the state may fall back into the same crisis of incomplete registrations.
Waqf activists highlight persistent issues like low awareness, incomplete trustee records, missing documents, and confusion over the portal process. They say the extension is meant for coordinated action, not just extra time.
Community groups, activists, and lawyers in Gujarat have prepared a joint plan to ensure almost 100% Waqf property registration. The roadmap includes state and district teams, a uniform document checklist, door-to-door outreach, and legal support for disputed cases. If carried out well, Gujarat could become the first state with near-complete Waqf documentation.
Trustees and activists have expressed appreciation to the Gujarat State Waqf Board for responding swiftly with their petition and showing readiness to collaborate. Community groups stress that achieving 100% registration is impossible without institutional guidance and administrative support from the Board.
Meetings with Board officials are expected soon to align strategy, clarify documentation requirements, and assign district-wise responsibilities.
Despite progress in Gujarat’s Waqf registration drive, challenges remain such as missing documents, low awareness, and elderly or digitally inexperienced trustees. Experts warn that lack of strict monitoring and fading enthusiasm could limit the drive’s impact. They say unity and discipline are essential for the effort to be truly transformative.
Community voices across Gujarat are calling for collaboration rather than credit-seeking.
“The question is not whose petition brought the order. The question is whether we will use these days to secure Waqf assets for the next generation,” said one organiser.
Waqf properties are an Amanat, and proper documentation is the first step in protecting them from encroachments, disputes, and mismanagement.
The Tribunal’s decision is a historic opportunity for Gujarat. With unity, discipline, and the implementation of the prepared roadmap, the state has the potential to set a national benchmark in Waqf governance.
But the outcome will depend on what happens next: Whether the energy continues beyond three days, whether monitoring remains strict, and whether the community works together with the Waqf Board.
If these conditions are met, 100% registration is not just possible, it is achievable.
