Kochi, Jun 11 The Kerala High Court on Thursday sought the response of the state government on a PIL seeking a declaration that the state Waqf board’s functioning is illegal, as it does not have two non-Muslim members as mandated by statute.
A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M issued notice to the state government, the board, and its members, seeking their stand on the public interest litigation filed by BJP leader Shone George.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on July 2.
In his plea, George has claimed that the United Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, after its amendment in 2025, mandates the inclusion of at least two non-Muslim members in the board.
He said that the constitutionality of the amendment was considered by the Supreme Court, which did not stay the statute and capped the number of non-Muslim members in state boards at three.
“However, the State of Kerala has deliberately flouted this statutory requirement by constituting a Board consisting only of Muslims. Through GO (P) No 54/2026/RD dated February 4, 2026, the state appointed nine members, all of whom are Muslim, while stating that the remaining two members would be appointed shortly,” the petition states.
George contended that a mere promise of future compliance cannot legitimise the board’s current composition.
“Consequently, the petitioner seeks a declaration that the Board’s functioning is illegal, a direction for the immediate nomination of the mandated non-Muslim members, and an interim restraint preventing the Board from functioning until it is lawfully constituted,” the plea states.
