Mamata Govt Shifts Stance: Adopts Waqf Act, Begins Uploading 82,000 Property Records
Kolkata: In a major policy shift, the West Bengal government has moved to comply with the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, directing all district magistrates to upload details of around 82,000 Waqf properties to the Centre’s UMEED digital portal by December 6.
Senior administrators confirmed that this directive aligns with the nationwide mandate issued by the Union government, requiring states to furnish records of all undisputed Waqf properties within six months of the law’s passage. Under Section 3B of the amended Act, states must provide digital documentation including ownership, boundaries, custodianship, and status of occupation.
The move marks a notable reversal from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s earlier public stand, when she had forcefully opposed implementation of the Act and assured minority groups the law would not be enforced in Bengal.
The Minority Affairs Department has now issued formal instructions to local authorities, urging them to coordinate with imams, muezzins and madrasa faculty to ensure accurate record-submission. Officials have been explicitly told to avoid uploading properties currently under dispute or litigation.
Legal experts emphasize that central laws supersede conflicting state provisions, meaning states are constitutionally obligated to implement acts passed by Parliament — regardless of political disagreement.
With Bengal now entering compliance mode, the exercise is expected to create a transparent digital trail of Waqf-related land holdings, potentially curbing misuse and aiding modernized property administration.
