After having refused to implement the Centre’s new Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, for months, the West Bengal government has finally accepted the law and issued directions to upload information of 82,000 waqf properties across the state on the central portal by the December 5 deadline, officials said.
The Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, was passed by both Houses of Parliament in April this year.
In a letter to all the district magistrates on Thursday evening, PB Salim, Secretary, West Bengal Minority Development Department, issued directions to upload the district-wise information of the state’s waqf properties on the central portal, umeedminority.gov.in, by the stipulated timeframe, it is learnt.
The decision is being seen as politically significant as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had publicly announced that she would not allow the new Act to come into force in the state. Also, widespread protests had erupted in the state after the Narendra Modi-led Central government tabled the Bill.
Speaking at a Jain community event on April 9, days after the law was passed, the CM had said, “I will not allow the Waqf Amendment Act to come into effect in Bengal. I will not allow them to divide and rule. We have 33 percent Muslims here. They have been living here for centuries. It is my duty to protect them.”
According to the amended law, the waqf boards and tribunals will have non-Muslim members, and the government will take the final decision in this regard if a property is claimed as waqf.
The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government even went to court against the law but did not get a favourable verdict. Section 3B of the amended Act states that information on all registered waqf properties across the country must be uploaded on the central portal within six months (December 5, 2025).
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According to the letter issued by the state Minority Development Department to the district magistrates, there are more than 8,000 waqf estates and all the information should be uploaded by the respective mutawallis (waqf property managers).
In the letter, the department secretary ordered an eight-point programme: 1) have a look at the site (Umeed portal) and familiarises with it; 2) organise meetings/workshops by involving concerned mutawallis, imams/madrasa teachers on uploading of details on the Central portal at the earliest (a list of mutawallis have been shared); 3) data entry to be done in two parts (a) initial OTP-based registration by individual mutawallis, and (b) enrolment of waqf property details; 4) controversial waqf properties, if any, need not be registered in this phase; 5) assign officials specifically for the task and monitor the daily progress; 6) senior officers from state-level offices to be deployed to visit respective districts; 7) help desks have been set up in eight districts and the remaining districts may set up the same; 8) daily training (from 2 pm to 4 pm) in virtual mode to be provided by the State Waqf Board, which can be attended from all offices from across the state.
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
