The Supreme Court has put on hold a Kerala High Court ruling that had concluded the Munambam land in Ernakulam district was not Waqf property. Issuing an interim order, the Court directed that the status quo be maintained until the matter is taken up again on January 27, 2026.
A bench comprising Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the Kerala Waqf Samrakshana Vedi, which challenged the High Court’s findings. The Supreme Court clarified that the stay applies only to the part of the High Court’s judgment declaring the land non-Waqf; the rest of the decision remains undisturbed.
The litigation concerns approximately 404 acres of land at Munambam, originally donated in 1950 to the Farook College Managing Committee. Over the years, various portions of the land were sold, prompting a complex dispute when the Kerala Waqf Board in 2019 categorized the property as Waqf land. This classification triggered opposition from long-time occupants and other stakeholders who claim legitimate ownership and have been paying taxes for decades.
The High Court had earlier held that the land could not be treated as Waqf property, but that conclusion will now remain in abeyance until the Supreme Court examines the larger questions relating to jurisdiction and the character of the land. The interim order ensures no changes are made on the ground while the case proceeds.
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