New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has urged the government to extend the deadline for registering Waqf properties under the new guidelines issued by the Central Waqf Council. The appeal was made by Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas, senior AIMPLB member, who said the current timeline is impractical for most Waqf Boards and property holders.
Dr. Ilyas said that limited awareness, shortage of trained staff, and technical hurdles in completing the digital registration process have slowed progress. He warned that if the deadline is not extended, many genuine Waqf properties risk being left out of official records. This, he added, could increase the danger of encroachments and weaken the community’s legal claims over its assets.
The AIMPLB has appealed to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs to step in and provide a reasonable extension. The Board also recommended that the government support Waqf Boards through training programs, improved digital infrastructure, and administrative assistance.
The ongoing registration drive is part of a nationwide effort to digitize and streamline management of Waqf properties, which are charitable assets held in trust for religious and community welfare purposes. However, several Muslim organizations have said that the process has been rushed and lacks consultation with key stakeholders.
