Minister Kiran Rijiju said the reconstruction of the WAQF court and WAQF board will help Munambam residents

The latest amendment to the WAQF Act allows the reconstruction of the WAQF Tribunal and WAQF Board of Directors to help residents of Munambam engage in a legal battle to restore tax rights to their shares. Union Minister of Ethnic Minority Affairs Kiran Rijiju said residents can move the Supreme Court to the Supreme Court under a high court order in the WAQF case.

Mr Rijiju talked to Mediapersons here on Tuesday (15 April 2025), implying that residents of Munambam may have to take legal action to resolve the matter, as the matter is to be settled before the judicial action. The newly formed WAQF board and changes to be introduced in the court structure may ultimately benefit residents. He said that since the matter is being tried before judicial argumentation, it cannot be resorted to any shortcuts to resolve the problem.

Earlier, only one person had the option to file a petition for review to the High Court to file a review against a court order, where only legal issues could be discussed. These amendments make it possible to appeal to the High Court, and also to appeal to the Supreme Court. He said it has also become easier to appeal in the High Court and the Supreme Court through amendments.

Mr Rijiju hopes that the state government will require regional collectors to “revisit” Munambam and revisit the decisions made by the Commissioner.

The state government should provide all assistance to regional collectors to revisit the area and help the Munambam people. He said the union government will support residents and state governments by providing them with all relevant documents and legal support.

He said the WAQF Board, Mutawallis (the trustee of WAQFS) and the investigative commissioner have caused pain and suffering to many innocent people through their illegal acts regarding WAQF.

He said the recent amendment ensured that Munambam would not be repeated anywhere in the country.

He said the union government will soon introduce the Amendment Regulations and issue guidance to the state government to formulate subordinate legislation.

LDF, UDF slams

Mr Rijiju accused the Nature Party and the UDF of converting Muslims into voting banks, hoping that Muslims will end their abuse of them as voting banks. He asked: “Kerala needs to be curriculum correction. How long will the people of Kerala be misled by the false narratives caused by the LDF and UDF?”

Union Minister George Kurian and BJP Governor Rajeev Chandrasekhar also attended the press conference. The minister later met some high priests in the city. He will attend a public meeting in Munambam and interact with residents.