Thiruvananthapuram: BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday said the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has sought an explanation from the Kerala State Waqf Board over the registration of the disputed Munambam land on the Centre's UMEED portal.

In a statement, Chandrasekhar said he had submitted a detailed complaint to Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, alleging that the Kerala Waqf Board had uploaded details of several properties, including the 404-acre disputed land at Munambam in Ernakulam district, on the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal.

According to Chandrasekhar, the law permits only the concerned Mutawalli, or trustee of a Waqf property, to upload such records on the portal.

He claimed that in the case of Munambam, that authority rests with Farook College and alleged that the Waqf Board had acted beyond its powers by uploading the details.

BJP links notice to complaint filed with Centre

Chandrasekhar said the Centre's move to seek an explanation from the Waqf Board followed his representation to the Union government.

He described the development as an indication of the seriousness with which the Centre was treating complaints raised by Munambam residents and various organisations.

The BJP leader reiterated that his party had consistently supported the people of Munambam and would continue its efforts to protect their property rights and livelihoods.

He also argued that uploading details of the disputed land on the UMEED portal while ownership claims remain under consideration before legal forums raises legal and administrative concerns.

The Nemom MLA further said the BJP would intervene in similar Waqf-related land disputes elsewhere in Kerala, including in Taliparamba. He added that the party would pursue legal and administrative measures to protect the interests of what it considers the rightful landowners.

Calling the Centre's intervention a significant step in the Munambam residents' fight, Chandrasekhar said the BJP would continue to pursue the issue through all available legal and administrative channels.

Long-running ownership dispute

The controversy intensified after the Kerala State Waqf Board registered the disputed land on the UMEED portal, triggering protests and drawing criticism from political parties.

The 404-acre property at Munambam has been the subject of a prolonged ownership dispute involving local residents, most of whom are Christians, and Waqf authorities.

Responding earlier to the criticism, Kerala State Waqf Board chairman K S Hamza said the uploading of land details on the UMEED portal was a mandatory technical and legal procedure.

He maintained that the process would not determine ownership of the property.

According to Hamza, the final decision on ownership would depend on the outcome of government and court proceedings.

Residents raise concerns over ownership rights

Residents of Munambam have consistently argued that the land was not originally a Waqf property.

They have expressed concern that its classification as Waqf land could affect their ownership rights and the validity of their land titles.

The dispute has led to extended legal proceedings, administrative examination and political debate, with questions being raised over whether due process was followed in declaring and registering the land as Waqf property.