Political Row Erupts in Kerala Over Waqf Board Reconstitution and Central Law Compliance

Conflict Over Judicial Submissions

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has dismissed claims that the United Democratic Front (UDF) administration supported the Union government’s Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025—also known as the UMEED Act—before the High Court. Addressing a press conference following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Satheesan asserted that his administration specifically requested the court to dismiss a petition seeking the appointment of non-Muslims to the Waqf Board. He noted that the previous Board, appointed under the Left Democratic Front (LDF), had informed the Supreme Court that the High Court declined to reject the petition despite the state's objections.

Allegations of Policy Deception

P. Rajeeve, a leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and former Law Minister, challenged the Chief Minister’s narrative, accusing him of public misrepresentation. Rajeeve pointed to a July 14, 2026, court submission where a special government pleader reportedly stated the state was ready to reconstitute the Board in strict compliance with Section 14 of the UMEED Act. This section mandates the inclusion of two non-Muslim members. Rajeeve argued that by agreeing to the petitioner's demands, the government's claim of seeking a dismissal is contradiction in practice.

The Timeline of Appointments

A significant portion of the friction involves the timing of the Board’s formation. Satheesan questioned why the previous administration failed to reconstitute the Board immediately after its term expired in December 2024, waiting instead until February 2026. He suggested that an earlier appointment would have shielded the Board from the new federal amendments. In response, Rajeeve cited historical precedents to justify the delay:

• The LDF argues that the UDF itself delayed Board reconstitution for a year starting in October 2013.
• During that period, an administrator managed the Board's affairs.
• Kerala and Tamil Nadu had previously left specific positions vacant pending Supreme Court rulings on the federal amendments.

Rajeeve further contrasted Kerala's current stance with that of Tamil Nadu, which maintained its position despite leadership changes, and Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP government filled vacancies with RSS-affiliated individuals. The CPI(M) contends that the current UDF position effectively facilitates the implementation of the Central law it claims to oppose.

Source: The Hindu — Home