Munambam waqf land dispute: Kerala HC issues notice in plea seeking eviction of church

Kochi: High court has admitted a petition and issued notice to the official respondents as well as the Velankanni Matha Church, Munambam, in a plea seeking a direction to the tehsildar, Kochi, to initiate steps to evict the church from the property, alleging that it is situated on waqf land.The bench of Justice Viju Abraham adjourned the petition by A M Abdul Lukhman of Alangad in Aluva to March 26 for further consideration. The petitioner alleged that the church has unlawfully occupied approximately two acres of waqf property, erected permanent structures thereon, and secured revenue and panchayat entries without any vestige of title.The petitioner further stated that the district collector, Ernakulam, on June 16, 2025, had issued a direction to the tehsildar, based on a complaint lodged by him alleging encroachment of waqf property by the church authorities, to conduct an inquiry and, if any encroachment was found, to evict the same. It was alleged that, despite the collector's explicit directive, the tehsildar had wilfully failed to act, thereby enabling the continued illegal possession of the property to the grave prejudice of the waqf.The petitioner has also sought a direction to the Pallippuram grama panchayat secretary to take necessary steps to remove the entries relating to the church buildings from the panchayat's asset register, contending that the same were made without any supporting title deeds, patta or documents evidencing ownership or possession, and to demolish the unauthorised constructions on the waqf property.