The Kerala State Waqf Board’s operations are facing legal scrutiny following a petition by BJP state vice-president Shone George to the Kerala High Court. George alleges that the Board is not complying with the amended Waqf law, raising concerns about the validity of its decisions. The petition highlights the absence of mandatory non-Muslim members in the Board, as required by the 2025 amendment to the Waqf Act.
A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V.M. Syam Kumar has requested the state government’s response and allowed time for a reply. The case is scheduled for further hearing in two weeks. The petition is based on the amended provision of the Waqf Act, which necessitates the inclusion of at least two non-Muslim members in State Waqf Boards, excluding ex-officio members.
George’s plea questions the appointment of nine Muslim members to the Board by the Kerala government, arguing that the current composition does not meet statutory requirements. The petition asserts that decisions made by the Board could be considered void due to its improper constitution. The plea also raises concerns about the Munambam Waqf land dispute and its impact on public unrest.
The petition seeks a declaration that the Kerala Waqf Board is operating against the amended law and demands the immediate appointment of the required non-Muslim members. The Supreme Court, while reviewing challenges to the 2025 Waqf Amendment Act, had not suspended the obligation for non-Muslim members in State Waqf Boards but capped it at three. The High Court’s decision on the petition is anticipated to have broader implications for Waqf administration and related property disputes in Kerala.
