The Kerala High Court ordered the state government to report within six weeks on filling vacancies within the Kerala State Waqf Board [1].

The ruling addresses prolonged administrative gaps that have hindered the board's ability to function. By mandating a timeline for appointments, the court seeks to ensure that the management of religious endowments remains operational and inclusive of diverse community interests.

During a hearing on Wednesday, July 23, 2026, the court focused on the need for broad representation among Muslim community groups [2]. The court said the state must ensure the inclusion of members from the Shia, Sunni, Bohra, and Aghakhani communities, as well as other backward classes [1]. This move is intended to prevent any single group from dominating the board's decision-making process.

In a temporary measure, the court permitted the inclusion of two non-Muslim members on the board [2]. This arrangement is intended to maintain the board's functionality while the government works to finalize permanent appointments. The court said the board must be able to operate without further interruption to its daily duties [1].

While the government has six weeks to report on the specific filling of vacancies [1], other reports indicate a three-week deadline for the state to respond to separate public interest litigations challenging the board's structure [3].

The Kerala State Waqf Board is responsible for the administration of waqf properties, assets donated for religious or charitable purposes. The Chief Executive Officer of the State Waqf Board and other government officials are now tasked with implementing these directives to resolve the leadership crisis. The court's intervention highlights the legal necessity of maintaining a balanced and fully staffed administrative body to manage these sensitive assets [1].

“The court granted the state government six weeks to report on filling vacancies.”

This judicial intervention signals a push for pluralism within the administration of Islamic endowments in Kerala. By mandating representation for minority sects like the Bohras and Aghakhanis, the court is attempting to shift the board from a potentially monolithic structure to one that reflects the actual diversity of the state's Muslim population. The temporary appointment of non-Muslim members suggests the court prioritizes administrative continuity over strict communal exclusivity during this transition period.