The Kerala High Court on Friday adjourned to February 25 the hearing on writ petitions challenging the State government’s order appointing an inquiry commission, headed by former High Court judge C.N. Ramachandran Nair, on the Munambam land issue.

When the petitions came up for hearing on Friday (February 21), the counsel for the petitioners argued that the commission was appointed by the government without application of mind. They contended that the land dedicated to the Waqf Board cannot be alienated without the Board’s sanction and that the occupants of the land in Munambam were rank trespassers. If the commission, after its inquiry, concluded that the persons living on Waqf land in Munambam were bona fide occupiers, such a conclusion would be perverse.

The State government has the power to issue directions in the interest of the Waqf Board but cannot issue directions contrary to the Waqf deed and the procedure under the Waqf Act. The issues relating to the Waqf could be resolved only under the provisions of the Waqf Act, they contended.