The Syro-Malabar Church has expressed support for proposed amendments to the Waqf Property Act, submitting formal requests to the Joint Parliamentary Committee overseeing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
The bill seeks to amend the 1995 law governing assets donated to Islamic charitable organizations, aiming for more equitable management and to prevent property misappropriation.
According to a report by AsiaNews, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of the Syro-Malabar Public Affairs Commission (SMPAC) highlighted ongoing property disputes in Ernakulam district, involving land owned by fishing communities claimed by the Waqf Board.
The lands in the villages of Cherai and Munambam, have been in possession of Christian families for generations but are now claimed as “waqf” properties designated for Muslim religious entities.
The Archbishop’s letter, dated September 10, denotes these claims as a risk to nearly 600 families facing potential eviction.
The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) also supports the bill. Both church bodies have urged the bill’s amendments to be guided by constitutional and humanitarian principles to address this situation.
Residents of Munambam plan a demonstration on September 27 at Vanchi Square in Fort Kochi to protest the Waqf Board’s claims and demand protection of their rights.
Introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to overhaul the management of waqf properties across India.
It includes significant changes such as the inclusion of two non-Muslims and at least two women in the Central Waqf Council, which advises on property management.
Despite its goals, the bill has raised concerns among Muslim leaders who fear it may lead to greater government control over religious properties and marginalize their community.
The ongoing debate and the committee’s review of the bill reflect the complex interaction of religious rights and property laws in Kerala, a state with significant Christian and Muslim populations.
