‘25,248 properties approved; 223 initiated for entry’
Srinagar, Aug 12: As many as 25,568 Waqf properties from Jammu and Kashmir have been uploaded on the UMEED Central Portal-2025, with 25,248 properties approved by the designated approver, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The information was provided by Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4115, raised by Shri Imran Masood, regarding the digital platform for monitoring disputed Waqf properties.
According to the State/UT-wise data, Jammu and Kashmir has 223 Waqf properties initiated for entry by the Maker, while 34 properties have been submitted by the Maker and are pending with the Checker. Another 10 properties have been submitted by the Checker and are pending with the Approver.
The data, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), further shows that five Waqf properties in Jammu and Kashmir have been rejected by the Approver, while none have been rejected by the Checker. As many as 48 properties have been returned to the Maker.
The Centre said the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Act, 1995, as amended by the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, came into force on April 8, 2025. Under Section 3(ka) of the UMEED Act, the UMEED Central Portal-2025 was developed and launched on June 6, 2025, for uploading Waqf details, registration of new Waqf and facilitating overall management and governance of Waqf properties.
The Ministry said the portal also facilitates monitoring and management of encroached Waqf properties. As on August 7, 2026, a total of 53,952 encroached Waqf properties had been uploaded by State Waqf Boards on the portal.
Regarding removal of encroachments, the government said Section 54 of the UMEED Act provides a mechanism under which the Chief Executive Officer of a State Waqf Board, upon receiving a complaint or otherwise, may conduct an inquiry. If satisfied that the property is Waqf property and has been encroached upon, the CEO may approach the Tribunal for an order for removal of the encroachment.
The tribunal may subsequently pass an eviction order after giving the concerned person an opportunity of being heard.
Nationally, the portal data shows 7,99,294 Waqf properties initiated or completed till August 7, 2026, with 6,18,247 properties approved by the Approver. (KNO)
