JIH Karnataka Launches Waqf Help Desk to Assist Uploads on Umeed Portal

By Mohammed Talha Siddi Bapa
Bengaluru: In a decisive move aimed at protecting and streamlining the registration of Waqf properties, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Karnataka has launched a dedicated “Umeed Portal Waqf Registration Help Desk” at its Shanti Sadan headquarters in Bengaluru.
The initiative, inaugurated by Muazuddin, CEO of the Karnataka State Waqf Board, seeks to provide technical and legal assistance to mutawallis (caretakers) and Waqf administrators in uploading property documents to the central “Umeed Portal,” an online platform introduced by the Government of India in June 2025.
Under the government’s directive, all Waqf property records must be uploaded to the portal within six months — a deadline that expires on December 5, 2025. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) had earlier advised Waqf institutions to withhold uploads in protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, but following an interim court order and expert consultations, the Board has now permitted the process to proceed while simultaneously seeking an extension of the deadline through a fresh petition in the Supreme Court, scheduled for hearing on October 28.
Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Mohammed Saad Belgami, Ameer-e-Halqa (State President) of JIH Karnataka, described the initiative as “a timely and practical step toward ensuring transparency and protection of community assets.”
“Waqf is a sacred trust,” he said. “Its protection is a collective responsibility. Now that the Personal Law Board has issued clear guidance, all mutawallis of mosques, dargahs, imambaras, and graveyards should immediately begin uploading their documents to the Umeed Portal without delay.”
The help desk will guide applicants through the entire digital process — from document preparation and verification to the final online submission — offering hands-on technical assistance for those struggling with connectivity or procedural issues.
The Umeed Portal was designed to centralize the documentation of Waqf assets across India, ostensibly to bring greater transparency to their management. However, many Muslim organizations expressed concern that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 could erode community control over religious endowments.
At the launch of a similar help desk in New Delhi on October 14, Syed Sadatullah Husaini, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, clarified that:
“Uploading Waqf documents on the Umeed Portal does not mean accepting the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025. The community’s legal and democratic struggle against the bill — led by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board — will continue until it is withdrawn.”
Muazuddin, CEO of the Karnataka State Waqf Board, highlighted the significance of digital registration:
“Uploading Waqf property documents ensures legal protection. Once registered, no third party can encroach upon or dispute these assets. The process involves two stages — initial verification by the Waqf Board, followed by official confirmation that the property is indeed Waqf.”
He added that every district Waqf office in Karnataka has now set up a help desk to assist local mutawallis in uploading their documents efficiently.
He also noted that under the new bill, the term “Waqf by user” has been omitted, but institutions already registered under that category will retain their recognition.
Meanwhile, Dr. Belgami announced that a volunteer network of Waqf activists is being mobilized across the state to help accelerate the documentation process and ensure no property is left unregistered due to technical or procedural delays.
The inauguration was attended by Mohammed Yusuf Kanni (State Secretary, JIH Karnataka), Maulana Waheeduddin Khan Umri Madani, Maulana Labeed Shafai, Mohammed Bilal (Assistant Secretary), Mohammed Markada (PRO), Mohammed Peer Sahib Lathgiri, and Masood Abdul Qadir Convener of the Karnataka Muslim Muttihida Mahaz , Moulana Hafiz Mufti Abdul Quddus saheb Imam wa Khateeb Masjid A’laa among others.
The help desk’s launch underscores a broader shift toward digital accountability and transparency in Waqf administration, combining legal diligence with community engagement. As the December deadline approaches, initiatives like these may prove crucial in protecting India’s vast and diverse network of Waqf properties from bureaucratic lapses and external interference.
In essence, the Umeed Portal Help Desk is not just a technical facility — it represents an organized, community-driven effort to balance compliance with resistance, ensuring that the trust of Waqf remains intact while its documentation enters the digital age.