SC to hear plea against Kerala HC’s Waqf Board order on Monday

The Supreme Court agreed to hear on July 20 a plea challenging a Kerala High Court order restraining the State Waqf Board from taking any major decision without its permission.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana on Friday took note of the submission made by the Waqf Board’s lawyer, who sought urgent listing of the matter.

The top court agreed to hear the matter on Monday.

In an interim order on July 15, the Kerala High Court restrained the state Waqf Board from taking any major decision without its permission.

It had also directed that the Board shall not incur any capital expenditure or make any policy decision without the express leave of the court, a senior advocate associated with the case said.

The high court bench had also directed the Government to ensure that its representative is appointed on the Board in accordance with the provisions of the United Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act.

The Board shall, for the time being, function under the administration of the joint secretary to the state Government dealing with Waqf matters, the high court had said.

The high court’s directions came while hearing several Public Interest Litigations, including one by BJP leader Shone George, alleging that the Board’s functioning was illegal as it did not have two non-Muslim members as mandated by the Act.

The high court had listed the matter for further hearing on July 22.