Waqf Board functioning without mandatory inclusion of non-Muslim members, says petition before HC

The State Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Shone George has approached the Kerala High Court, alleging that the State Waqf Board is functioning without the ‘mandatory inclusion of non-Muslim members’.

The Waqf Amendment Act mandates that at least two members of the Board, excluding ex-officio members must be non-Muslims, in order to ensure secular oversight, professional diversity, and financial accountability in administration, he said.

The State has deliberately flouted this statutory requirement, by nominating a Board consisting entirely of Muslims. Through an order dated February 4, the State appointed nine members, all of whom are Muslims, while concluding the order with an assurance that the remaining two members would be appointed shortly. A mere promise of future compliance, cannot legitimize the Board’s current allegedly illegal functioning, the petitioner submitted before the HC.