NEW DELHI: Countering Centre's claim that there has been shocking increase' in the Waqf properties after 2013, All India Muslim Personal Law Board ( AIMPLB ) on Saturday told Supreme Court that the govt is "misleading" the court by falsely depicting a picture which does not exist as all the properties registered as Waqf before 2013, were not immediately uploaded on Centre’s Waqf Management System of India (WAMSI) portal when it became operational and it was done over the years..
The board in it's affidavit said that Centre's affidavit is a manipulation of statistics which exemplified Mark Twain’s famous phrase of “lies, damned lies, and statistics”. It said that the claim made by the govt is scurrilous and action should be taken against the official who filed the affidavit. It further said that the number of Waqf estates, as information provided by CEO’s of Waqf Boards, is 3,30,008 whereas govt affidavit states that in 2025, the “number of properties” is 6,65,476 which is almost double.
"In relation to Waqf properties on WAMSI portal, the affidavit (filed by Centre) relies upon specially designed columns... It is submitted that the said chart and relatable averment in the Affidavit, the way it has been projected, is completely misconceived and misleading, apart from being inaccurate. The deponent of the affidavit deserves to be proceeded with a departmental action for filing such an irresponsible affidavit in such an important case. By making a false claim, it appears that the Union of India has attempted to mislead this Court," the affidavit settled by senior advocate M R Shamshad, said.
"It appears that in its affidavit Union of India is suggesting that all the properties registered as waqf before 2013, were immediately uploaded on WAMSI Portal, when it became operational. At page 158, the first column with title ‘number of properties in 2013’ to say that the number of waqf properties reflected therein were the only registered properties is mischievous. The Deponent of the counter affidavit has not been candid to this Court, and it appears that has carefully avoided making a statement that all the registered waqf properties were uploaded on the web portal in the year 2013, the board said.
Questioning the sanctity of chart filed by Centre, the board said the public official, who is also the in-charge of the said portal, has either deliberately suppressed this fact or casually made this chart to falsely depict a picture which does not exist.
"The said deponent must file an Affidavit in this regard to state that the number of properties reflected on WAMSI portal, which is controlled by the very same Ministry, contained all the registered waqfs as on 2013. Thus, the claim that there has been a ‘shocking’ increase in the number of Waqf properties since 2013 is a claim that is unsupported and amounts to scurrilous allegation in pleading," it said.
The Centre in its response said that there were 2,07,394 waqf properties across the country till 2013 and 6,65,476 more properties were added between 2014 and 2025, a 320.9% increase. “In other words, till 2013 [the period includes Mughal era, pre-Independence era and post-Independence era], the total area of waqf created was 18,29,163.896 acres of land. It is really shocking to note that after 2013, the addition of waqf lands is 20,92,072.563 acres in just 11 years”, thus totalling more than 39 lakh acres, the Centre said.
The Board also alleged that Centre's affidavit is silent on the sweeping powers given to the collector
"The updating of WAMSI portal is a work in progress, which would keep acknowledging/ reflecting already registered waqf properties. Even otherwise, the figures supplied by govt appear to be in clear contradiction with the records maintained on the portal. This data reflects that as on 31.10.2024, the number of Waqf estates, as information provided by CEO’s of Waqf Boards, is 3,30,008. Whereas the Counter Affidavit states that in 2025, the ‘number of properties’ is 6,65,476. Both these figures are contradictory, though it has been compiled by the same set of people of the govt agencies," the board said.
The board in it's affidavit said that Centre's affidavit is a manipulation of statistics which exemplified Mark Twain’s famous phrase of “lies, damned lies, and statistics”. It said that the claim made by the govt is scurrilous and action should be taken against the official who filed the affidavit. It further said that the number of Waqf estates, as information provided by CEO’s of Waqf Boards, is 3,30,008 whereas govt affidavit states that in 2025, the “number of properties” is 6,65,476 which is almost double.
"In relation to Waqf properties on WAMSI portal, the affidavit (filed by Centre) relies upon specially designed columns... It is submitted that the said chart and relatable averment in the Affidavit, the way it has been projected, is completely misconceived and misleading, apart from being inaccurate. The deponent of the affidavit deserves to be proceeded with a departmental action for filing such an irresponsible affidavit in such an important case. By making a false claim, it appears that the Union of India has attempted to mislead this Court," the affidavit settled by senior advocate M R Shamshad, said.
"It appears that in its affidavit Union of India is suggesting that all the properties registered as waqf before 2013, were immediately uploaded on WAMSI Portal, when it became operational. At page 158, the first column with title ‘number of properties in 2013’ to say that the number of waqf properties reflected therein were the only registered properties is mischievous. The Deponent of the counter affidavit has not been candid to this Court, and it appears that has carefully avoided making a statement that all the registered waqf properties were uploaded on the web portal in the year 2013, the board said.
Questioning the sanctity of chart filed by Centre, the board said the public official, who is also the in-charge of the said portal, has either deliberately suppressed this fact or casually made this chart to falsely depict a picture which does not exist.
"The said deponent must file an Affidavit in this regard to state that the number of properties reflected on WAMSI portal, which is controlled by the very same Ministry, contained all the registered waqfs as on 2013. Thus, the claim that there has been a ‘shocking’ increase in the number of Waqf properties since 2013 is a claim that is unsupported and amounts to scurrilous allegation in pleading," it said.
The Centre in its response said that there were 2,07,394 waqf properties across the country till 2013 and 6,65,476 more properties were added between 2014 and 2025, a 320.9% increase. “In other words, till 2013 [the period includes Mughal era, pre-Independence era and post-Independence era], the total area of waqf created was 18,29,163.896 acres of land. It is really shocking to note that after 2013, the addition of waqf lands is 20,92,072.563 acres in just 11 years”, thus totalling more than 39 lakh acres, the Centre said.
The Board also alleged that Centre's affidavit is silent on the sweeping powers given to the collector
"The updating of WAMSI portal is a work in progress, which would keep acknowledging/ reflecting already registered waqf properties. Even otherwise, the figures supplied by govt appear to be in clear contradiction with the records maintained on the portal. This data reflects that as on 31.10.2024, the number of Waqf estates, as information provided by CEO’s of Waqf Boards, is 3,30,008. Whereas the Counter Affidavit states that in 2025, the ‘number of properties’ is 6,65,476. Both these figures are contradictory, though it has been compiled by the same set of people of the govt agencies," the board said.
You may also like
Chaatery brings India's beloved street food to Porvorim in Goa
Pakistani troops continue unprovoked firing along LoC in J-K for 10th day
The pretty but underrated European seaside resort where a pint is just £2.15
'Starbase, Texas is now a real city!': Elon Musk celebrates victory as SpaceX-backed town wins vote
Incredible city with cobbled streets and 'chilled vibe' in Europe's safest country
