Kerala government reconstitutes State Waqf Board

The Kerala government has reconstituted the State Waqf Board, appointing M. C. Mayin Haji, a leader of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), as the new chairman. The nine-member board replaces the previous committee led by K. S. Hamsa, which was appointed by the former LDF government and still had over four years remaining in its term.

The decision has sparked political tension and legal challenges. The Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar faction of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama criticized the move, alleging that the Sunni community has been denied due representation while reformist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami received seats.

The Kerala High Court has refused to stay the government's order to reconstitute the board, though Justice S. Manu noted that the new appointments remain subject to the outcome of pending writ petitions challenging the dissolution of the previous board. Two positions on the new board remain vacant pending further orders from the Supreme Court regarding the appointment of non-Muslim members.