The Munambam land dispute, involving claims by the Waqf Board and local residents, has taken a new turn with the appointment of a judicial commission by the Kerala government.
This panel, led by former Kerala High Court Acting Chief Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair, has been tasked with examining the ownership, nature, and extent of the contested land in Ernakulam district.
The commission will assess the status of the land, identified under the old survey number 18/1 of the former Vadakkekara Village in the erstwhile Travancore State.
It will also investigate measures to protect the rights and interests of residents who have occupied the land for years. The state government issued the formal notification for the commission's formation on Thursday.
The roots of the dispute lie in a claim by the Waqf Board, supported by a court directive, which has prevented local revenue authorities from accepting land tax payments from the current occupants.
Residents argue that the land was purchased from the Farooq College management and was not part of any Waqf property. They insist they have valid title deeds and consider the verification process proposed by the commission an injustice.
The state government convened a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on November 22 to address the issue. Following the meeting, the government announced the commission's formation to explore permanent solutions to the Waqf property dispute.
Despite assurances from the Chief Minister, including a promise that no one would face eviction, residents of Munambam have maintained their ongoing protest, which has now entered its second month.
The residents remain firm in their demand for revenue rights over the land and have refused to end their strike. They assert that only a formal recognition of their ownership will resolve the situation, highlighting their frustration with the prolonged uncertainty.
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