Kerala Waqf Board Reconstituted: Mayin Haji Named Chairman

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The Kerala government has dissolved and reconstituted the State Waqf Board, appointing Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state vice-president M.C. Mayin Haji as its new chairman. The decision, reported on Saturday, October 17, 2026, replaces the board headed by K.S. Hamsa, which had been set up by the previous LDF government in March this year and still had more than four years of its term left.

The move comes while a petition by Hamsa challenging the dissolution is still pending before the Kerala High Court, so the board’s future may yet be shaped by the courts.

Why the board was reconstituted

According to reports, the state government told the High Court that reconstitution had become necessary because several members of the earlier board allegedly did not meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. The court had earlier barred the existing board from taking policy decisions, which affected its day-to-day functioning. The government order also refers to related cases pending in the High Court and the Supreme Court.

Who is on the new board

The new nine-member board brings together representatives of several Muslim organisations. Mayin Haji is a veteran of waqf administration who previously served for 18 consecutive years as an elected member from the mutawalli (caretaker) category. Kurukkoli Moideen MLA represents legislators. For the first time, a person linked to Jamaat-e-Islami — Jaseem Sabah of the Welfare Party of India — has been included. The Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen and Dakshina Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama are also represented.

Neither faction of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama is formally represented, and one Samastha leader publicly called the decision unfair to the organisation. Two seats for non-Muslim members have been kept on hold pending a Supreme Court ruling in a related case.

Key facts

New chairman: M.C. Mayin Haji, IUML state vice-president
Board size: nine members
Replaces: board headed by K.S. Hamsa, formed in March 2026
First: Jamaat-e-Islami-linked representation on the Kerala board
Pending: Hamsa’s petition in the Kerala High Court; non-Muslim nominations await a Supreme Court decision

Why it matters for the community

Waqf boards manage properties dedicated by Muslims for religious and charitable purposes — Masjids, Madrasas, graveyards, orphanages and land whose income supports community welfare. A board that is stuck in litigation or barred from policy decisions cannot easily approve development projects, settle disputes or act against encroachment. For ordinary Muslims, stable and transparent waqf administration directly affects the upkeep of local Masjids and the funds available for education and relief.

The Kerala case is the latest in a series of waqf governance disputes across India. Recently we reported on the Waqf Tribunal’s order in the Mumbai Khilafat House dispute and the Kashmir Waqf Board’s clarification on Friday sermons. For mutawallis and committee members, our guide on managing waqf and community property with Amanat and transparency offers practical steps.

What happens next

The Kerala High Court’s response to Hamsa’s petition will be the next key step. Separately, the appointment of non-Muslim members will follow the Supreme Court’s eventual ruling on board composition under the amended waqf law. Readers can follow official notices from the Central Waqf Council and state boards through the WAMSI waqf portal.