2 weeks ago
Kerala High Court Gives Government Six Weeks For Waqf Vacancies
The Kerala High Court gave the state government six weeks to fill three empty positions on the Waqf Board.
The government said it had already started working on the appointments.
The court wants the Board to function properly while the case continues.
It has not yet decided whether the whole Board must be formed again.
The current Board can continue doing its work for now.
Some petitioners say the Board does not follow the amended Waqf Act.
They especially object to the lack of required non-Muslim members.
One group also questioned the Board’s decision to upload information about disputed land in Munambam.
The Kerala High Court gave the state government six weeks to fill three vacancies on the Kerala State Waqf Board.
The government said it had begun appointing members under the amended Waqf Act.
The court said it was focusing on the Board’s functioning, not yet deciding whether it must be reconstituted.
The interim order allows the existing Waqf Board to continue functioning.
Petitioners have challenged the Board’s composition and its uploading of disputed Munambam land details to the UMEED portal.
- Who
- The Kerala government, the Kerala State Waqf Board, and petitioners including Assembly of Christian Trust Services and BJP leader Shone George.
- What
- The High Court ordered the government to fill three Waqf Board vacancies within six weeks while leaving broader composition challenges unresolved.
- Where
- The Kerala High Court in Kerala.
- When
- The matter was adjourned for six weeks; no specific hearing date was stated.
- Why
- The court said its immediate concern was ensuring the proper functioning of the Waqf Board while legal challenges over its composition continue.
Government and Waqf Board Position
Petitioners’ Position
Board composition
Government and Waqf Board Position
The government said it had initiated steps to fill vacancies in accordance with the amended legislation, while the court left the reconstitution question open.
Petitioners’ Position
Petitioners allege that the Board violates the amended Waqf Act by not including required non-Muslim members and community representatives.
Board’s continued functioning
Government and Waqf Board Position
The court emphasized the need for the Board to function and clarified that the existing Board could continue operating.
Petitioners’ Position
Petitioners seek legal findings that the Board is improperly constituted and, in one case, immediate appointment of two non-Muslim members.
Munambam land records
Government and Waqf Board Position
The Waqf Board uploaded details of disputed Munambam land to the UMEED portal.
Petitioners’ Position
Assembly of Christian Trust Services says the upload affects Hindu and Christian families and argues that the Waqf Act gives the muttawali authority to file the details.
Key facts
- Court order
- The Kerala High Court gave the state government six weeks to fill three existing vacancies.
- Government position
- Advocate General K Jaju Babu said steps had already begun under the amended Waqf Act.
- Board status
- The existing Waqf Board may continue functioning under the interim order.
- Unresolved issue
- The court has not decided whether the Board must be reconstituted.
- Composition challenge
- Petitions allege that the Board does not include required non-Muslim members and community representatives.
- Munambam dispute
- Assembly of Christian Trust Services challenged the Board’s uploading of disputed land details to the Centre’s UMEED portal.
Sources
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