What happened
The Supreme Court relaxed a Kerala High Court interim order that had placed the Kerala Waqf Board under supervision of a state government officer. The Supreme Court said a court can intervene if there is egregious interference in the functioning of a statutory body, but routine day-to-day control by a government official cannot be allowed.
The Supreme Court kept the Joint Secretary or Additional Secretary on the Board as an ex-officio member while hearing the Kerala Waqf Board’s challenge to restrictions on major decisions, capital spending, and policy choices.
Background and earlier position
The dispute arose from petitions alleging that the Kerala Waqf Board was not properly constituted under the 2025 Waqf law. The petitions included claims about the absence of non-Muslim representation and Shia representation on the Board.
A Waqf Board is a statutory body that manages Waqf properties and related administration. The legal dispute therefore concerns both the composition of the Board and the extent of executive or judicial control over its functioning.
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