Keralam Waqf Minister N Samsuddeen clarified that the government has not decided to dissolve the Waqf Board, though the High Court observed that the government can reorganize it if needed. He added that the state government would examine all aspects, including legal issues pending before the courts, before deciding on reconstituting the Waqf Board.
Samsudheen was responding to reports that the state government has decided to dissolve the Kerala State Waqf Board.
“No such decision has been taken. All of you are aware of the Waqf Board issue. A case related to this is currently pending before the Kerala High Court. During the hearing of the case, the court observed that under the existing law, the government has the authority to reconstitute the Waqf Board,” he told reporters.
He also added that the arguments were still going on as the case has not been disposed. He has also highlighted that the government has not taken any decision regarding the reconstitution of the board in recent days.
“We will examine all aspects. Currently, two or three cases related to this are pending. So, in that situation, the government can decide on a matter only after examining all aspects,” he said.
The minister also said the government is monitoring cases pending before the Supreme Court relating to amendments to the Waqf Act.
“So, we are observing all of this. After observing, we will move forward accordingly. We have taken no such decision in recent days,” he said.
Samsudheen also referred to a case before the High Court challenging nominations made by the previous government to the Waqf Board.
“We also feel that it was not proper, because the people who were supposed to be appointed under each quota were not the ones designated under those quotas,” he said.
(With agency inputs from PTI)
