The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) has called on the members of Parliament from the state to support amendments to the Waqf Act, citing certain provisions as “unconstitutional and unjust.”
In a statement released on Sunday, 30 March 2025, KCBC highlighted the ongoing Munambam land dispute, where residents face legal uncertainty over property ownership. The dispute stems from claims raised under the existing Waqf Act, which allows challenges to land transactions involving properties that were once endowed for religious or charitable purposes. The Farook College management, which had sold the disputed land to Munambam residents, maintains that it was received as a gift, strengthening calls for legislative amendments.
“There should be a solution to the Munambam issue. The Farook College management has asserted that the land in question was gifted. MPs should cooperate to amend the Waqf Act, which currently permits claims against such properties,” the KCBC stated in its appeal.
The council’s demand has received backing from key Union ministers. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman welcomed the KCBC’s stance, stating on social media that their appeal for amendments addresses sections of the Waqf Act that are “unfair” and “anti-constitutional.”
A welcome step by the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC).
Their call is for amending the sections which are “unfair” and “anti-constitutional”in the existing Waqf Act.
“Kerala Catholic bishops put weight behind Centre’s Waqf (Amendment) Bill.”
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) March 31, 2025
Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju also supported the request, emphasizing that lawmakers must protect the rights of Munambam residents.
I welcome the request by Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) to all MPs of Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill as a Minister and as a minority community member.
It is the duty of those in politics to care for and address problems and challenges faced by our people. For… pic.twitter.com/GQR8kr1Zgz
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) March 30, 2025
In Kerala’s Ernakulam district, 400 Christian and 200 Hindu families are battling to keep their ancestral homes as the Waqf Board asserts ownership over land that their communities have occupied for generations. The properties in question lie in the coastal regions of Munambam and Cherai, areas historically inhabited by the Latin Catholic fishing community. The dispute, centered around the legal status of the land, has revived decades-old tensions and brought significant distress to the residents.
The Waqf Act governs properties dedicated to religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law. While recent amendments have aimed at increasing transparency, critics argue that certain provisions infringe upon property rights and create avenues for misuse.
In January 2025, Kerala Congress (Joseph faction) MP Francis George announced his support for the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament, pledging to take a positive stand on the matter. Speaking at the 100th day of the Munambam land struggle, organized under the leadership of the Assembly of Christian Trust Services (ACTS), George emphasized his commitment to justice and fairness, declaring that his party is ready to cooperate with anyone to uphold these principles. His statement was met with jubilation by the people of Munambam.
The Kerala Legislative Assembly, on 14 October 2024, unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union government to withdraw the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. The resolution argued that the bill undermines secular principles and threatens the democratic values enshrined in the federal structure of the Constitution. It contended that the proposed amendments would weaken the authority of state Waqf Boards and infringe on state rights by replacing elected members with a board of nominated officials.
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