600 Families, Waqf Board & Farook College: 6 Things To Know About Munambam Land Row

Last Updated:May 26, 2026, 17:22 IST

News18 explains the five things you need to know about the conflict involving around 600 families, the Kerala State Waqf Board, and Farook College.

What is the Munambam land row, a multi-layered dispute in Kerala over 404 acres of coastal land in the Ernakulam district, which has flared up again?

News18 explains the five things you need to know about the conflict involving around 600 families, the Kerala State Waqf Board, and Farook College.

1. What is the core issue?

The dispute revolves around 404 acres of coastal property in Munambam (Vypin Island), mostly inhabited by backward-class Latin Catholic Christian fishing families and some Hindu households.

The Kerala State Waqf Board claims the land is an inalienable Waqf property (religious trust), while the residents argue they own it legally, holding formal title deeds and tax receipts, say reports.

2. What is the historical background?

In 1902, a prominent trader, Abdul Sattar Sait, was initially granted the land by the princely state of Travancore. In 1950, his relative, Mohammed Siddique Sait, handed the property over to Farook College (Kozhikode) via a deed for educational purposes.

The land was already occupied by local fishermen. Following legal tussles in the 1960s, the college management ultimately sold the land to the occupants at market rates, omitting any mention that it was Waqf property, according to reports.

3. How did the dispute escalate?

The Waqf Board staked an official claim over the entire property in 2019, stating that the 1950 deed permanently dedicated it as Waqf.

In 2022, the state revenue department froze the revenue rights of 600 families, preventing them from paying property taxes, selling their land, or securing loans.

This triggered intense local protests by the Munambam Land Protection Council, strongly backed by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, say reports.

4. What are the legal interpretations?

Pro-resident groups and legal experts highlight that the 1950 deed explicitly states that if the college stops functioning, the land reverts to the donor’s heirs. Under Islamic law, a true Waqf must be a permanent, unconditional dedication to God, making this deed highly ambiguous.

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court ruled that the Waqf Board’s initial declaration was “bad in law" and violated several statutory rules.

5. What are the recent developments?

The controversy flared up intensely after the Kerala Waqf Board registered the 404 acres on the Union Government’s UMEED portal (a national database for Waqf properties). Protesters and opposition parties like the BJP are currently demanding the dissolution of the Kerala Waqf Board over the sudden portal registration.

6. What did the CM say on Monday?

Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Monday said that the government will legally challenge the Munambam land dispute and ensure that residents are not evicted. The Chief Minister claimed that the previous government had treated the Munambam area as Waqf land and accused it of trying to divide communities. He assured that the present government will fight the case in court, protect the affected families, and ensure they receive their land rights.

Addressing a press conference, CM Satheesan said, “The last government’s stand is clear – they are saying that Munambam is Waqf land. They were acting to implement the Sangh Parivar’s agenda of creating a split between the two religions. We will legally fight this. The victims will not be evicted, and they will get their land. We will fight for this till the end."

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K Surendran has accused the UDF government in Kerala of misleading people over the Munambam land issue.

With agency inputs

News explainers 600 Families, Waqf Board & Farook College: 6 Things To Know About Munambam Land Row

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