Kerala Waqf Board Restructured, M.C. Mayin Haji Appointed as President

Thiruvananthapuram, October 17 (Daily Kiran) : The Kerala government has announced the restructuring of the state Waqf Board, appointing M.C. Mayin Haji, the state vice president of the Indian Union Muslim League, as its new president. This politically significant decision could alter the dynamics among Muslim organizations in the state.

The newly formed nine-member board replaces a committee led by K.S. Hamsa, which was established by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government earlier this year in March.

This decision comes despite the board still having over four and a half years left in its term. Hamsa has filed a petition in the Kerala High Court challenging the dissolution of the board. The state government previously informed the High Court that the restructuring was necessary, citing that several members did not meet the required qualifications. The court had also imposed a ban on the existing board’s policy decisions, affecting its operations. However, questions have arisen regarding the abrupt dissolution and reformation of the entire board just months after its establishment.

Mayin Haji is a senior leader of the Muslim League and has prior experience as a member of the Waqf Board. His appointment is viewed as an acceptable option for the leadership of the Muslim League, which may help alleviate tensions between the government and certain factions of Muslim political leadership regarding the board’s functioning.

The new board also includes Mustafal Faizi, recently expelled from the Samasta E.K. faction, which is seen as a politically significant inclusion. This may spark discussions about representation among dissenting leaders within Samasta.

Legislator Kurukkoli Moideen will represent the assembly members on the board. The new committee includes representatives from various Muslim organizations.

Notably, for the first time, Jamaat-e-Islami has received representation on the Waqf Board, while the AP Sunni faction, led by Kanthapuram A.P. Abubakar Musaliar, has been excluded.

Reports indicate that the government was dissatisfied with former board member Umar Faizi Mukkom, who represented the mutawallis. His public leanings towards leftist politics and disagreements with the government on policy issues led to discontent regarding his role.

The appointment of two non-Muslim members to the board has been postponed as the government awaits a decision from the Supreme Court on their representation.

The future of the new board may hinge on the outcome of Hamsa’s petition in the Kerala High Court. This restructuring opens a new legal and political front for the state government, which aims to empower the Waqf Board to make policy decisions and manage Waqf properties effectively.