Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday accused CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan of trying to turn the Muslim community against the UDF government by making communal remarks in connection with the Waqf Board appointments issue.
Satheesan, at a press conference here after the cabinet meeting, said when several petitions were filed in the Kerala High Court against the manner in which the Board was constituted, the UDF government sought dismissal of the pleas and said it would consider reconstituting the statutory body after considering the pleas.
The Waqf Board had gone to the Supreme Court against the Kerala HC order of July 15 and submitted that it will appoint non-Muslim members in accordance with section 14 of the United Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act of 2025.
It also told the apex court that as assured earlier, the non-Muslim members will be appointed from the Bar Council and public persons, and it sought permission to take the Board forward in accordance with section 14 of the Act.
The Waqf Board took the same stand in the SC as the Kerala government did in the High Court.
"But the opposition leader made incorrect, communal remarks to spread communalism and turn the Muslim community against the government. Such attempts by the opposition leader or the CPI(M) to blame the government on the issue will not succeed.
"It was his (Vijayan) government which stated that non-Muslims would be appointed in the Board. It is on record. We said we will constitute the Board taking into consideration the averments in the petitions before the High Court, but the pleas should be dismissed," the CM contended.
Satheesan said that the Waqf Board in Kerala was the first one in the country to be constituted after amendments to the Waqf Act in 2025 and the then LDF government had said that two non-Muslim members will be appointed in it from the Bar council and amongst public persons after the elections to the lawyers' body is over.
"The Waqf Board has taken a stand before the High Court and the apex court that it will comply with section 14 of the Act," he claimed.
He also said that the government will take a decision in the matter in accordance with the direction of the concerned court.
The HC on July 15 had directed that the Board shall not take any major decisions, incur any capital expenditure or make any policy decision without the permission of the court.
It had also directed that the Board function under the supervision of a joint secretary.
However, the Supreme Court on Tuesday modified the order by deleting the portion where the Board had to function under the supervision of the joint secretary.
It did not interfere with the other restrictions imposed by the High Court.
The apex court also directed the High Court to dispose of the matter expeditiously after giving all parties a fair opportunity to file their claims and counter-claims and disposed of the Waqf Board's appeal.
