Kerala CM says former CPI(M)-led LDF govt had agreed to appoint non-Muslim members on Waqf Board

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan

| Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT

The previous CPI(M)-led LDF government had agreed to appoint two non-Muslim members on the Kerala Waqf Board but at a later stage, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has said. The assurance was part of the government order on the board formation issued at the time, he added.At a post-Cabinet press briefing in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, the Chief Minister alleged that Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan was trying to “foment communal sentiments” against the Congress-led UDF government.“It is on record. Their (LDF) government had given an assurance in the order that the appointments will be made at a later stage from among public figures and the Bar Council,” Mr. Satheesan said. The appointments were not made then as, apparently, the Bar Council elections were in progress, he said.Kerala was the first to form the Waqf Board following the Centre’s Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The order forming the board clearly states that the two members will be appointed from prominent public figures and the Bar Council. Following this, four petitions were filed in the High Court saying that non-Muslims were not appointed, backward Muslim communities had no representation, and that ineligible appointments were made, said Mr. Satheesan.“The UDF government told the court that we will constitute the board after examining the issues, but the court should reject the petitions. Afterwards, in the Supreme Court, the Waqf Board also echoed the government stand. The Waqf Board has taken the stand before the Supreme Court and the High Court that it will comply with the provisions of Section 14,” he said.On the UDF government stand on these appointments, he said that the government will take a decision based on the “direction of the court concerned.”On Tuesday, Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan had alleged that the UDF government’s stand in the Supreme Court that it will implement Section 14 of the Union government’s Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, is tantamount to sacrificing minority interests. Published - July 22, 2026 01:55 pm IST