The West Bengal Waqf Board is taking a formal legal route to address a critical technological hurdle. With mutawallis, the managers of Islamic trust properties, struggling to meet a central government deadline due to a malfunctioning portal, the board has decided to facilitate their appeal before the waqf appellate tribunal.
Portal Malfunctions Halt Critical Data Upload
Mutawallis across the state are mandated to upload detailed information about waqf properties onto the central government's Umeed portal by December 5. However, the process has been marred by persistent technical failures. Officials report that the server often malfunctions, the portal crashes frequently, and data cannot be uploaded smoothly due to several glitches.
An officer involved in the process highlighted the core issue: "We have set up help desks at the waqf board office and the Haj House, but if the portal does not function, how can we support the mutawallis?" This technical paralysis has resulted in a significant backlog. Out of approximately 7,000 mutawallis in West Bengal, only around half have successfully uploaded their data so far.
Board's Intervention and Unheeded Complaints
Frustrated by the lack of resolution, the Bengal Waqf Board is now actively helping mutawallis prepare and file applications with the waqf appellate tribunal. This move underscores the severity of the administrative logjam created by the portal's poor performance.
A senior board official revealed that repeated pleas to the central government have gone unanswered. "I had written several letters to the Centre requesting improvements to the portal and troubleshooting, but no action had been taken," the official stated. The board estimates that 70% of the required data would have been uploaded by now if the portal had operated smoothly.
Vacant Positions Compound the Problem
Adding another layer of complexity to an already difficult situation is a high vacancy rate among mutawalli positions. The official pointed out that around 25% of these positions are currently vacant. This shortage of appointed managers further complicates the task of registering and updating records for waqf properties within the tight deadline.
The combination of technological failure and administrative gaps poses a significant challenge to creating a comprehensive and accurate digital record of waqf assets in the state. The board's decision to seek tribunal intervention marks a formal escalation in its efforts to resolve the crisis before the fast-approaching deadline.
