Published Oct 28, 2026 | 10:08 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 28, 2026 | 10:08 AM
The petition, filed by ACTS state secretary George Sebastian, seeks the reconstitution of the Waqf Board, including the representation of MPs.
Synopsis: The Kerala High Court is scheduled to hear a PIL filed by the Assembly of Christian Trust Services challenging the composition of the State Waqf Board and its decision to upload details of the disputed 404-acre Munambam property on the UMEED portal. The petition seeks the Board’s reconstitution in line with the Waqf law and argues that the listing affects more than 600 Latin Catholic Christian and Hindu families.
The Kerala HC is scheduled to consider a PIL filed by the Assembly of Christian Trust Services (ACTS), challenging the constitution of the State Waqf Board and its decision to upload details of the disputed 404-acre Munambam property on the central UMEED portal.
The petition, filed by ACTS state secretary George Sebastian, seeks the reconstitution of the Waqf Board, including the representation of MPs.
The organisation has suggested the names of Suresh Gopi, Francis George and K Radhakrishnan for inclusion in the Board.
ACTS has argued that the Board was not constituted in compliance with the provisions of the Waqf law, as amended, particularly regarding mandatory representation from specified communities, including non-Muslims and Shia, Bohra and Aghakhani Muslims.
Also Read: While the goats fought, the fox feasted! Munambam Waqf dispute in Kerala enters a new phase
The petition also challenges the uploading of the Munambam property details on the UMEED portal, contending that it affects more than 600 Latin Catholic Christian and Hindu families.
It has further argued that the authority to upload such details rests with the muttawali or manager of the waqf, rather than the Board.
In an earlier interim order, a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar VM, restrained the Board from taking major decisions and placed its functioning under the supervision of a state government Joint Secretary until issues concerning its composition are resolved.
The Munambam land dispute has also reached the Supreme Court.
Although the Kerala HC had earlier ruled that the land was not waqf property, the SC subsequently stayed that finding on an interim basis and ordered the maintenance of status quo.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
