50% GIS Mapping is complete
The Chairman of the Maharashtra Waqf Board
Sameer Ghulam Nabi Kazi answers the key questions:
Question: What steps is the Maharashtra Waqf Board taking to address the issue of widespread encroachment, given that over 60%–70% of waqf land in the state is reportedly encroached upon?
Answer: The Maharashtra Waqf Board in coordination with the state government is taking a series of steps to address the issue of widespread encroachment on waqf land, which reportedly affects more than 50% of waqf properties. We have launched modern techniques like GIS mapping to accurately survey and monitor waqf lands.
Question: How does the Board plan to make hearings and decision-making processes about waqf properties more transparent for the public and the Muslim community, considering recent demands to make hearings public instead of holding them in the chairman’s chamber?
Answer: Recent amendments to the Waqf Act, as reflected in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aim to improve governance, transparency, and inclusivity in the management of waqf properties and we are trying to fulfill the expectations of the stakeholders.
Question: What measures are being implemented to reclaim waqf properties and ensure they are used for the welfare of the poor, needy, widows, orphans, and the deprived, as originally intended?
Answer: The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 aims to streamline waqf property management, safeguard assets from misuse, and target encroachment and unauthorized occupation through stronger legal enforcement and district-level authority for reclamation. Stricter penalties have been introduced, and Waqf Boards now have enhanced powers to prevent illegal transfers and encroachment, with increased accountability and oversight.
Question: Can you provide an update on the progress of geo-tagging waqf properties, and the challenges faced in this process?
Answer: The waqf board has made significant progress in the geo-tagging of waqf properties, particularly following the launch of the UMEED portal in mid-2025, which has made digital inventory and geo-tagging mandatory for all waqf assets nationwide. However, this process has faced notable challenges including incomplete data, inconsistent registration, and legal disputes. The UMEED portal was launched as a centralized digital platform for real-time uploading, verification, and monitoring of waqf properties, making geo-tagging and documentation mandatory. Maharashtra is at the forefront, initiating geo-mapping of over 45,000 waqf properties with enterprise-grade GIS systems and mobile integrations, aiming to enhance transparency, and increase revenue generation for the board. Many records are incomplete, missing GPS location, boundary details, administration status, and even basic valuation, impacting the reliability of the data collected so far. Large estates often remain un-surveyed, and significant numbers of older properties lack documentation, leading to disputes over legitimacy and ownership.
Question: How is the Maharashtra Waqf Board responding to allegations and findings of negligence in the management and legal protection of waqf assets?
Answer: The Maharashtra Waqf Board has faced extensive allegations of negligence and mismanagement in the maintenance and legal protection of waqf assets, especially regarding encroachments and disputed property sales. In response, the Board has undertaken various initiatives to get vacated the encroached properties. Over 50% of waqf land in Maharashtra is reportedly encroached, with legal action initiated in over 1,088 cases under waqf laws. Even Political Leaders of almost all the parties ruling the Maharashtra state since independence encroached upon the Waqf Land. Activists and community organizations have criticized the Board for failing to remove encroachments, protect community assets, and hold accountable those responsible for mismanagement. They argue that most waqf land remains undeveloped and that political interference and administrative inertia have diverted resources meant for community welfare.
Question: What steps is the Board taking to prevent further illegal sale or transfer of waqf lands, and is there any progress on the request for a Special Investigation Team to probe misappropriation and fraud?
Answer: The Waqf Board has been actively taking steps to prevent further illegal sale or transfer of Waqf lands and there are indications of progress regarding the request for a Special Investigation Team to probe misappropriation and fraud. The recent Waqf Amendment Act 2025 introduces stricter penalties, heightened powers for Waqf Boards, and provisions for better governance aimed at curbing encroachment and illegal transfers. It mandates digital management of Waqf properties, including registration on a centralized portal within six months, and integrates GIS mapping and online record-keeping to ensure transparency and accountability.
Question: With over 27,000 waqf properties in Maharashtra, what is being done to audit, legalize, and bring them under proper Board management and oversight as per the Supreme Court’s directions?
Answer: As per the Supreme Court of India direction related to the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, which aims to improve transparency, auditing, and management of waqf properties. The amendments include mandatory registration of waqf properties, subjecting waqf institutions with income over Rs 1 lakh annually to audits, and introducing stricter oversight mechanisms for state Waqf Boards. Maharashtra, as a state with over 27,000 waqf properties, comes under these national reforms and Supreme Court directives. Efforts to audit and legalize these properties include:
- Digitized registration drives on the UMEED portal to document and legalize waqf properties.
- Implementing audits and transparency mechanisms for waqf properties with significant income as per guidelines laid down by the Act.
- Legal measures to protect waqf properties from encroachment and to ensure they are utilized for their intended charitable and religious purposes.
In summary, Maharashtra’s waqf properties are being brought under formal audit, legalization, and state oversight chiefly through the 2025 Waqf (Amendment) Act, Supreme Court rulings supporting registration, auditing, and administrative restructuring, and the roll-out of the UMEED portal for centralized management.
Question: How does the Board ensure the inclusivity and involvement of stakeholders from the wider Muslim community in decision-making regarding waqf assets?
Answer: The Board ensures inclusivity and involvement of stakeholders from the wider Muslim community in decision-making regarding waqf assets primarily through the composition and nomination process of its members. The Board includes members from diverse Muslim sects and communities such as Shia, Sunni, Bohra, Aghakhani, and backward Muslim communities, ensuring representation that reflects the internal diversity of the Muslim population.
