AIMPLB questions the accuracy of Centre’s affidavit in the Supreme Court

New Delhi (India) May 4: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has blamed the Centre for providing fake information to the Supreme Court in the Waqf matter and wants strict action against the officer who is connected to filing the false affidavit.

The government's claim that there has been a "shocking increase" in the quantity of Waqf properties filed on the central portal since 2013 has drawn severe opposition from the board.

For submitting what it claims is a "false affidavit," the concerned officer in the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has been targeted by AIMPLB, the body responsible of Muslim clerics in India.

It appears that in its affidavit, the Union of India is suggesting that all the properties registered as Waqf before 2013 were immediately uploaded on the WAMSI portal, when it became operational. At page 158, the first column with the title 'number of properties in 2013' to say that the number of Waqf properties reflected therein were the only registered properties is mischievous.

"The deponent of the counter-affidavit has not been candid to this court and, it appears, has carefully avoided making a statement that 'all the registered Waqf properties were uploaded on the web portal in the year 2013'. Since this crucial aspect is missing in the affidavit, the sanctity of this chart itself is seriously doubtful," the AIMPLB has said.

It has said that the deponent must file an affidavit and state that the number of properties reflected on the Waqf Management System of India (WAMSI) Project portal contained all the registered Waqfs as on 2013.

The government said that there has been a "shocking increase" of 116 per cent in the number of Waqf properties in the country since 2013. It also opposed the arguments over the necessary registration of "Waqf by user" properties till April 8, saying if the provision is interfered with by an interim order, it would amount to the "creation of a legislative regime by a judicial order".

The Centre promised the top court on April 17 that it would not, until May 5, de-notify Waqf property, including "Waqf by user" properties, or choose anyone to the central Waqf council or boards.

Even in the absence of a formal registration, a property may be regarded as Waqf based on its continuous, long-term usage for such purposes. This method is known as "Waqf-by-user.”

The Waqf (Amendment) Act,2025 came into force in April 2025 after being passed by both the houses and receiving the President’s assent.

- Aadrika Tayal