Waqf Overreach Under Court Scrutiny
The Kerala High Court held the Waqf Board’s 2019 declaration of Munambam land as Waqf property ultra vires.
The court restored the State’s inquiry commission and ruled that the Board had overstepped its authority in unilaterally notifying 404 acres of coastal land in Munambam, Ernakulam, as Waqf property.
The Kerala High Court came down heavily on the Kerala State Waqf Board for what it termed a “land-grabbing tactic”
The Division Bench comprising Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. held that the Waqf Board's 2019 notification declaring the Munambam property as Waqf was ultra vires the provisions of the Waqf Act, 1995.
Author's summary: Kerala High Court rules against Waqf Board's land claim.