The state government on Friday decided to appoint a committee headed by CN Ramachandran Nair, former acting chief justice of the Kerala High Court, to look into the contentious Munambam land issue and find a “permanent solution”.

Briefing the media about the decisions taken at a meeting convened here by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Law Minister P. Rajeeve said the judicial commission would look into whatever can be done to protect the legal rights of all bona fide occupants of the land in question. It was also decided in the meeting that none of the genuine occupants would be evicted. Their legal rights would be protected, Mr Rajeeve said.

The commission would submit its report within three months.

“Furthermore, the Kerala State Waqf Board has agreed to refrain from issuing any further advisories to the people until a decision is finalized on the findings of the commission,” said M. Rajeeve, addressing a press conference with Revenue Minister K. Rajan and V. Abdurahiman. Minister of Minority Welfare and Waqf.

“The Waqf Board had published 12 notices. The meeting asked the board not to issue further opinions or pursue further actions until a decision is finalized. The Waqf Board has accepted this,” he said.

The minister said the state government would also take steps to have the High Court stay the payment of property tax by the vacated occupants.

Mr Rajeeve said the government was aiming for a permanent solution to the problem. It would therefore be imprudent to make an announcement at this stage that could be called into question, harming the interests of the occupiers. Nine cases were brought before the High Court and two before the Waqf Tribunal.

Mr Rajeeve said the government’s position was clear on this issue. There were authentic occupants, people who had bought land. A situation should not arise where they risk being deported. “In order to examine the matter in detail, the government believes that a judicial commission is necessary,” he said.

The UDF criticizes the decision

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front criticized the state government’s decision to appoint the commission. The government is “deliberately delaying” a decision that could actually be taken in ten minutes, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan said. In doing so, the government was also providing opportunities to the Sangh Parivar powers bent on creating divisions in society, he claimed.

Mr Satheesan also criticized the government for ignoring his demand for an all-party meeting on the dispute. The government was deliberately refusing to provide justice to the people of Munambam, he said.