Kerala High Court Upholds State Government's Power of Scrutiny
The Kerala High Court has rejected the waqf board's claim over 400-acre land in Ernakulam district, terming it "bad in law".
The case revolves around a tract of land in Vadakkekara village, which was gifted in 1950 by a businessman to a college management committee via an 'endowment deed'.
The court, obligated to act under the Constitution, especially in a secular country like India, cannot permit such a belated and fanciful exercise of power.
The high court described the board's move as a "land-grabbing" tactic and observed that the state government has the power to investigate its actions.
- The waqf board declared nearly 400 acres of disputed land as waqf property, seven decades after it was privately gifted.
- The division bench of Justices S.A. Dharmadhikari and Syam Kumar V.M. refused approval to the arbitrary declaration of land as waqf.
Author's summary: Kerala HC rejects waqf board's claim over 400-acre land.