Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said his government will not evict residents of the Munambam area and will pursue legal action to protect their land rights.
This assurance comes amid a growing dispute over land ownership and registration, pitting local residents against the Waqf Board. The resolution of this conflict is critical for the stability of the coastal community, and the legal precedent for land registration in the region.
Speaking in Thiruvananthapuram on May 25, 2024 [1], Satheesan said the current administration is prepared for a legal fight to ensure the residents remain on their land. "Residents will not be evicted," Satheesan said.
The Chief Minister directed his criticism toward the Waqf Board's recent actions regarding the UMEED portal. He said the registration of the land on the portal by the board is politically motivated.
Satheesan also attributed the current deadlock to the administrative failures of his predecessors. He said the previous LDF government is responsible for the stalemate that led to the current crisis.
The government intends to use all available legal avenues to challenge the board's claims and secure the rights of the inhabitants. The move seeks to provide a permanent solution to a dispute that has created significant uncertainty for the families living in the Munambam area.
“"Residents will not be evicted."”
The Chief Minister's stance signals a shift toward judicial intervention to resolve the Munambam land dispute. By framing the Waqf Board's actions as political and blaming the previous LDF administration, the current government is positioning itself as a protector of local residents while distancing itself from the policy failures that created the stalemate.
