Kochi: The Kerala High Court has struck down the Kerala State Waqf Board’s 2019 declaration that 404 acres of coastal land in Munambam, Ernakulam, were Waqf property. The Division Bench comprising Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Syam Kumar V.M. ruled on October 14 that the Board’s action was ultra vires, holding it had no legal authority to make such a declaration.
The land, home to nearly 600 families from the fishing community, was at the centre of a prolonged dispute following the Waqf Board’s reliance on a 1950 deed. The court found that the document did not constitute a valid religious endowment under Waqf law. The Bench described the Board’s attempt as a “land-grabbing tactic,” emphasizing the need to protect the livelihood and housing rights of residents.
In its judgment, the court reinstated the Kerala government’s Inquiry Commission headed by Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair. The Commission will examine the legitimacy of the Waqf Board’s claim and ensure due process for the affected families.
The ruling reinforces judicial scrutiny over statutory overreach by religious and administrative bodies. It also underscores the importance of transparency and legal compliance in the management of Waqf properties. For the fishing community in Munambam, the verdict brings relief after years of uncertainty over land ownership.
