In a significant development, the Kerala High Court has granted interim relief to the state government by staying an earlier single bench order that had nullified the formation of a judicial commission investigating the Munambam Waqf land dispute. The ruling allows the commission, headed by former High Court judge Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair, to continue its work, though the state has been directed not to act upon the panel’s findings until the case is fully resolved.
The commission, constituted in November 2024, aims to protect the legal rights of nearly 600 families who have been residing on the disputed land in Munambam, Ernakulam, for over 40 years. The Kerala Waqf Board had laid claim to the 400-acre property in 2019, sparking a contentious legal battle and widespread local protests.
In March 2025, a single bench had quashed the commission’s appointment, citing that a Waqf tribunal was already empowered to handle such matters. However, the government challenged this decision, leading to the present stay order issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S. Manu. The case is now scheduled for further hearing in June, after the court’s summer recess.
Kerala Law Minister P. Rajeev welcomed the order, emphasizing the government’s resolve to prevent any eviction of Munambam residents during the legal process.
The dispute continues to draw attention due to its intersection of legal and religious interests, highlighting the complex challenges of land ownership, heritage, and justice in the region.
