Shahi Idgah Managing Committee v. Union Of India & ANR.

$~70 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 4340/2026 SHAHI IDGAH MANAGING COMMITTEE .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Sanjoy Ghose, Sr. Advocate, Mr.

Imran Ahmad, Mr. Sajid Ahmad, Mr.Rohan Mandal, Mr. Shammi Alam Khan, Mr.Simran Deep Singh, Advocates.

versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR.

.....Respondents Through:

Mr. Jagdish Chandra, Ms Maanya Saxena, Mr.

Shivam Kataria, Advocates for R-1.

Ms. Farhat Jahan Rehmani (ASC), Mr.

Firoz Iqbal khan, Ms. Fatima Parveen, Ms. Muskan Ali, Advocates for R-2.

Mr.

Sameer Vashisht, Standing Counsel (GNCTD).

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANISH DAYAL

O R D E R

% 22.04.2026 1.

Pursuant to previous order dated 8th April 2026, Mr. Jagidsh Chandra, counsel for Union of India ('UOI') states, on instructions, that though the UOI operates UMEED portal, the Supreme Court's directions dated 1st December 2025 in W.P.(Civil) 226/2025 granted liberty to the applicants to approach respective Waqf Tribunals for extension of time. 2.

Regards the functionality of Waqf Tribunal in Delhi, Mr. Chandra states that it would be the duty of the Government of NCT of Delhi to inform the Court in this regard.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

3.

Mr. Sameer Vashisht, Standing Counsel for GNCTD, is present in Court and states, on instructions that there is no Waqf Tribunal functional in Delhi at the moment.

4.

Considering this vacuum, Mr. Sanjoy Ghose, Senior Advocate appearing on behalf of petitioner, has drawn attention of this Court to order passed by a Coordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.(C) 5691/2025 dated 01st May 2025, wherein directions were issued by the Court instead, considering that the Waqf Tribunal was non-functional. Same has been followed with approval in W.P.(C) 1923/2026 by order dated 11th February 2026. Relevant extracts from the two orders are extracted as under: "Order dated 01st May 2025 in W.P.(C) 5691/2025

14. In the meanwhile, regard being had to the fact that the Waqf Tribunal is non-functional where the petitioner has instituted its suit, it is directed that the respondent/DDA shall not take any coercive action against the present petitioner pursuant to the impugned notice dated 11.02.2025.

Order dated 11th February 2026 in W.P.(C) 1923/2026

15. Once the Coordinate Bench has directed the fact that the Waqf Tribunal is non-functional and the petitioner has instituted its suit for the declaration of the entire property (subject matter of the present petition) being waqf property and this Court has directed the respondent not to take any coercive action against the petitioner, on account of parity similar order needs to be passed.

16. The petitioner has already demonstrated from the orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and of the Coordinate Bench that the issue is pending before the Waqf Tribunal which is at present non-functional." 5.

It is also noted that from Unified Waqf Management, Empowered, The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

Efficiency and Development Act, 1995, as amended by the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, that Waqf Tribunals are to be constituted by the State Government in pursuance of Section 83 of the said Act. Proviso to Section 83(2) of the said Act is instructive, since it states as under: "provided that if there is no Tribunal or the Tribunal is not functioning, any aggrieved person may appeal to the High Court directly."

6.

Ms. Farhat Jahan Rehmani, ASC, who appears for the Delhi Waqf Board, states that the process of verification is still underway since some properties remain to be verified, and supports the petitioner's request for extension of six months for the UMEED portal. 7.

In these circumstances, there should be no impediment in the Court to exercise its inherent power to ensure that the petitioners are provided an opportunity to upload the details on the UMEED portal, considering that the process had effectively commenced only in October 2025 and remained incomplete due to persistent technical glitches, as informed by petitioner. 8.

The UMEED portal was launched on 6th June 2025 with the deadline to upload the details 5th December 2025.

9.

It is noted that, pursuant to the Supreme Court's direction, various muttawallis and applicants across the country, including those in Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana, have been granted an extension of timelines for the UMEED portal. Copies of such orders have been placed on record along with the petition.

10.

The orders of the various Waqf Tribunals in different States have been perused by this Court. It is noticed that the time has mostly been extended for six months, from 6th December 2025 to 5th June 2026, for filing the details on The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

the portal of database.

11.

Accordingly, it is directed that respondent no.1/UOI shall open the UMEED portal with effect from 15th May 2026, allowing some time for UOI to clear the technical glitches, if any, and the portal shall remain open for six months i.e. till 14th November 2026.

12.

Needless to state, the process involves three levels i.e. maker, checker and approver, which requires involvement of the Delhi Waqf Board for verification and uploading.

13.

Ms. Farhat Jahan Rehmani, ASC for Delhi Waqf Board, states, on instructions, that there will be complete cooperation by the Delhi Waqf Board in this regard so that the process can be completed within the stipulated time. 14.

Accordingly, the petition stands disposed of with above directions. 15.

Pending applications, if any, are rendered infructuous. 16.

Order be uploaded on the website of this Court. ANISH DAYAL, J APRIL 22, 2026/ak/tk The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.