Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 22 (PTI) A high-level meeting chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday decided to appoint a judicial commission to identify the ownership of the disputed land in Munambam in the state's Ernakulam district.
Opposition Congress criticised the government’s decision, with Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan stating it was a denial of justice to the poor in Munambam.
Former Kerala High Court Acting Chief Justice CN Ramachandran Nair will head the commission, Law Minister P Rajeev announced after the meeting.
He assured that no residents in possession of land in Munambam would face eviction, and that their legal rights would be protected.
"The decision to set up the judicial commission has been taken with the aim of finding a permanent solution without evicting anyone.
The commission will examine matters including the ownership of the land," the minister said.
He also said the Waqf Board has been directed not to take any action until a further decision is made.
The government requested them to stop the issuing of land acquisition notices and initiating any further action on previously issued notices, which they have agreed to, he added.
According to the minister, 12 notices have been issued so far.
The minister also said the government will initiate measures for the people to pay the taxes for the properties owned by them.
"Although it was decided earlier to pay the land tax, but the High Court had stayed it," the minister said, adding that the government will initiate action through the court to vacate the stay.
The commission has been directed to complete its proceedings within three months, and the decisions made during the high-level meeting will be discussed with the protesters, the minister said.
In the villages of Cherai and Munambam, in Ernakulam district, residents have alleged the Waqf Board was unlawfully claiming their land and properties, despite the people holding registered deeds and land tax payment receipts.
The ongoing protests escalated after the Syro Malabar church and others extended solidarity towards the residents.
In the wake of this, the CM convened the meeting to resolve the issue.
However,the Munambam Bhoo Samrakshana Samiti said that they will continue the protest.
According to them, the probe by the judicial commission will delay a permanent solution.
The residents staged a protest in Munambam on Friday and warned that they will intensify their strike.
According to the residents who are protesting, the land they currently own was purchased from the management of Farook College, Kozhikode.
The case relating to the property dispute is pending in the high court.
Criticising the government’s decision to appoint a judicial commission,cLeader of Opposition V D Satheesan stated it a denial of justice to the poor in Munambam.
He alleged that the government is deliberately delaying a matter that could be resolved in ten minutes, thereby giving an opportunity for Sangh Parivar forces to create a division in society.
Justice C N Ramachandran Nair, who is appointed the commission, has assured that the commission's report on the Munambam Waqf land issue will be delivered without delay.
He stated that the goal is to resolve the matter peacefully and urged the people of Munambam to cooperate fully with the commission.
Meanwhile, the hearing on Munambam Waqf land issue that came up before the Waqf Tribunal headed by Judge Rajan Thattil in Kozhikode on Friday was adjourned to December 6.
The appeal was filed by Farook College, the beneficiary of the reported Waqf deed, against the decision of the Kerala State Waqf Board to enlist the Munambam land as a Waqf property.