Government Restores Revenue Rights in Munambam, Bringing Relief to Residents

Kochi: Ernakulam District Collector G Priyanka has ordered the full restoration of revenue services for the Munambam land, following a request from the Village Officer seeking clarity on service delivery. The move comes after the Kerala High Court’s interim directive permitting residents of Munambam to pay land tax, a process that had already resumed.

With tax collection restarting, residents soon approached the village office for other services such as possession certificates, location sketches, and Record of Rights. This prompted the Village Officer to consult the Collector. After reviewing the High Court’s directive, the Collector authorised the reinstatement of all revenue-related services. The order notes that the decision is subject to the final outcome of cases pending before the Supreme Court and the High Court. Applications for various services, including possession certificates, are now being accepted, and copies of the directive have been provided to the Land Protection Committee.

This development is linked to the long-running dispute over nearly 400 acres of Munambam land, which the Waqf Board had claimed. More than 600 families who purchased the land years ago have been engaged in prolonged legal battles to secure ownership. On October 10, the Kerala High Court Division Bench ruled that the Munambam coastal land is not Waqf property. The verdict came in the state government’s appeal, and the government had already assured Munambam residents that no one would be evicted.

After the ruling, the Advocate General appeared before the court seeking permission to begin land tax collection. This was followed by a Single Bench direction allowing the acceptance of land tax, providing significant relief to the local community. The 413-day-long protest led by the Munambam Land Protection Committee ended soon after.

Committee members said the restoration of revenue rights confirms that the government has kept its promise to the coastal residents. Land Protection Committee chairman Joseph Rocky Palakkal, convener Joseph Benny Kuruppassery, and others submitted applications for possession certificates at the village office based on the Collector’s order.