Kerala Government Can Resolve Munambam Issue By Acquiring The Disputed Land: Judicial Commission

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Judicial Commission, headed by Justice C N Ramachandran Nair, has stated that residents should not be evicted from Munambam land, which is currently involved in a dispute with the Waqf Board.

The Commission Chairman has emphasised that the revenue rights of the people of Munambam should be established and restored. If the Tribunal determines that the disputed land belongs to the Waqf Board, the government should take steps to acquire the land in the public interest, he told mediapersons on Thursday.

The Commission is scheduled to submit its report to the state government next week. The proposed recommendations from the Commission are aimed at finding a lasting solution to the issue. Many believe that the proposals will provide relief to the Munambam residents who are on an indefinite agitation on the issue.

The Commission thinks that the government should initiate discussions between the Waqf Board and the Farooq Colege Management for reaching a consensus on restoring the revenue rights of the land to the people. Additionally, the Commission suggests that compensation should be provided if the government acquires the land.

The Commission, however, has not taken a stance on whether Munambam land is Waqf Land.

The term of the Judicial Commission is set to end this month. The dispute arose when the Waqf Board issued a notice Munambam land is Waqf.

The further action on the Commission’s report is subject to the permission and direction of the Kerala High Court.

Munambam Issue

The families affected in Munambam have been unable to pay property taxes due to a directive from the revenue department. Approximately 610 families have been on indefinite protest for the past 186 days, demanding the restoration of their revenue rights.

This 400-acre parcel of land, occupied by the fishing community since the 1980s, originally belonged to the Travancore Royal Family. It was leased to a trader named Abdul Sathar Moosa Sait in 1902. Later, a successor transferred the land to Farook College, a government-aided institution based in Kozhikode, which was established to empower socially backward classes. A Waqf deed was registered in 1950 following this transfer. A Waqf deed is a legal document that designates property for permanent dedication under Islamic law.

Most families currently residing in Munambam are from the fishing community and belong to the Latin Catholic Church.

Bullet points

Judicial Commission suggests that the issue can be resolved if the Kerala Government acquires the land for public use, under the existing Waqf Act

The land acquisition should be pursued only if the state-appointed Waqf Board and Farooq College, which sold the land to the Munambam residents, are unable to resolve the dispute through negotiations