Kochi: In a firm appeal issued during the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) Monsoon Conference held at the Pastoral Orientation Centre (POC) in Palarivattom, the Church leadership expressed deep concern over the unresolved land rights crisis in Munambam, a coastal locality in Ernakulam district. The controversy, which centers around claims made by the Waqf Board on long-settled properties, has left hundreds of families in legal and emotional limbo for months.
The KCBC, which represents the collective voice of Catholic bishops in Kerala, emphasized that the state’s inaction despite sustained protests and mounting anxiety among the Munambam residents was both unjust and untenable. The council called on the Kerala government to act decisively and with compassion, warning that prolonged silence from the authorities could lead to further social unrest and weaken public trust in democratic institutions.
The Munambam land conflict has escalated over the past year, after the Kerala State Waqf Board staked a claim over significant portions of property inhabited by Christian fishing communities for generations. Though the residents possess long-standing documents of ownership and have paid taxes regularly, the Waqf Board’s claim—citing historical endowment—sparked legal battles and administrative confusion. Tensions have since simmered in the area, with affected families fearing displacement.
In response to the escalating situation, the state government appointed the Justice C. N. Ramachandran Commission to conduct an impartial inquiry into the legitimacy of the competing claims. The commission, after extensive study, has submitted its report to the Chief Minister. However, despite the report’s completion, no concrete steps have yet been taken to address the matter definitively.
Highlighting the urgent need for a resolution, the KCBC urged the government to publish the findings of the Ramachandran Commission and initiate follow-up actions without delay. “It is imperative that the government provides legal clarity and safeguards the revenue rights of Munambam’s residents, who have been law-abiding citizens and stewards of their land for decades,” the council stated in its release.
The Church also cautioned that dragging the issue further would not only undermine the residents' basic rights but also embolden similar attempts elsewhere to question legally held property under the guise of vague historical claims.
The KCBC insisted that a lasting and just settlement was non-negotiable. It called for the government to revoke any erroneous entries that have cast doubt over ownership and issue official notifications reaffirming the residents’ title deeds. In addition, it recommended legal reforms to prevent such ambiguities in land administration from recurring in other vulnerable coastal and rural communities.
The bishops expressed solidarity with the Munambam community and assured continued Church support, both pastoral and legal. “We stand with the people whose livelihoods, dignity, and heritage are at stake,” the statement added.
As one of the most pressing social justice concerns addressed during this year’s conference, the Munambam-Waqf dispute has become a test case for how the state navigates historical claims, religious sensitivities, and the constitutional rights of ordinary citizens. The KCBC has now placed the ball squarely in the government’s court, urging action that is lawful, fair, and humane.