Kerala High Court Greenlights Munambam Land Probe, Cites Deception

The Kerala High Court has sanctioned a state inquiry into the contentious Munambam land dispute, expressing strong doubts about the motives of those opposing the commission. Justices S.A. Dharmadhikari and Syam Kumar V.M. allowed appeals from the state government, setting aside a prior ruling that had dismissed the appointment of an inquiry commission. This commission is tasked with mediating conflicts involving hundreds of residents and the Waqf Board. Residents have reported obstacles in fulfilling land tax obligations and registering property mutations, stating their ancestors bought the land from Farook College. The land’s history dates back to 1950 when it was gifted to Farook College. Later, the Kerala Waqf Board declared it waqf property, nullifying previous sales and leading to resident protests. A government-appointed commission, led by retired Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair, was formed to seek a lasting resolution for genuine occupants and third-party buyers. The High Court critically examined the petitioners’ locus standi, noting their failure to demonstrate direct harm and questioning their choice to challenge the commission rather than file a public interest petition. The court observed that the petitioners remained silent while third-party rights were being established over several years. The management of Farook College has consistently maintained that the original deed was a simple gift. The court concluded that the petitioners were misrepresenting the situation to benefit unseen third parties seeking to acquire the land from Farook Management. The Kerala Waqf Board’s lack of objection to the government commission was also a significant factor. With the single-judge order nullified, the inquiry commission can now commence its work, offering hope for a resolution to the long-standing Munambam land issue.