LDF govt. had agreed to pick non-Muslim members for Waqf Board, says Kerala CM
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan says the previous CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government had agreed to appoint two non-Muslim members to the Kerala Waqf Board later, and that the assurance was part of the board’s formation order.
- The Kerala Waqf Board is the statutory body that oversees waqf properties and administration.
- Four petitions were said to have been filed over non-appointment of non-Muslims, representation of backward Muslim communities, and ineligible appointments.
- Kerala was described as one of the first States to form the Waqf Board after the Centre’s Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
What happened
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said the previous CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government had agreed to appoint two non-Muslim members to the Kerala Waqf Board at a later stage. Satheesan said the assurance was included in the government order issued when the board was formed.
Satheesan made the statement at a post-Cabinet press briefing. He accused Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan of using communal propaganda to turn the Muslim community against the United Democratic Front government.
The Kerala Waqf Board composition dispute is relevant for UPSC because it raises questions about statutory board design, minority representation, and the scope of judicial review. A Mains answer can examine whether appointments to religious endowment bodies should balance community composition, administrative competence, and transparent selection criteria.
