Kerala's Church congregations call for action as 600 Christian families face eviction under Waqf Act

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill has received formal letters from the Syro-Malabar Church and the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), requesting significant amendments to the Waqf Act of 1995. Both have expressed concerns over the alleged unlawful claims by the Waqf Board on Christian properties in Kerala.

Allegations of Unlawful Claims on Christian Properties

In a letter dated September 10, Archbishop Andrews Thazath, chairman of the Syro-Malabar Public Affairs Commission, raised alarms about properties belonging to Christian families in the Cherai and Munambam areas of Ernakulam being unlawfully claimed by the Waqf Board. 

Thazath highlighted that these properties have been in Christian families for generations and that the unlawful claims have led to prolonged legal battles, affecting around 600 families.

"These people belong to the impoverished fishermen community. One Catholic Parish Church, a convent, and a dispensary are also under threat of evacuation by the Waqf Board," Archbishop Thazath noted.

The Syro-Malabar Public Affairs Commission has urged the JPC to consider the plight of these families and many others across India who face losing their properties due to what they describe as unjust claims by the Waqf Board. 

The Church has called for amendments to the Waqf Act based on humanitarian and constitutional principles to prevent further such incidents.

KCBC's Call for Immediate Action

In a separate letter, dated September 10, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, President of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), also raised concerns about the Waqf Board's claims on properties owned by more than 600 families in Munambam Beach, Ernakulam. 

The Cardinal emphasized that since 2022, these families have been living in distress due to what he described as unjust claims under the Waqf Law.

"It is deeply concerning that the Waqf Board's claims are being made against citizens who legally purchased and developed their lands. These claims are unjust, unconstitutional, and violate the rights guaranteed by our Constitution," Cleemis wrote. 

He urged the JPC to thoroughly review the Waqf Law and amend or repeal any provisions that lead to such unjust claims.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill and Its Proposed Reforms

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8 and was subsequently referred to the JPC following a heated debate. 

The committee is currently holding discussions with various stakeholders to refine the proposed amendments, which aim to bring significant reforms to the Waqf Act.

The original Waqf Act of 1995, created to regulate the management of over 600,000 registered waqf properties across India, has faced allegations of mismanagement, corruption, and encroachment. 
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposes introducing digitization, stricter audits, enhanced transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.

The JPC is expected to submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the end of the first week of the next parliament session.

ANI