Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the first state in India to reconstitute its Wakf Board under the provisions of the Wakf (Amendment) Act, 2025, with the newly formed panel featuring two Hindu members for the first time. The development follows amendments to the law that permit the inclusion of non-Muslim members in state Wakf Boards.
The state government has restructured the 10-member body, with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav appointing Sanwar Patel as its chairman.
The reconstituted board includes Manoj Malpani and Animesh Bhargava as its Hindu members, making it the country's first state-level Wakf Board to incorporate non-Muslim representatives under the amended legislation. A gazette notification formalising the new board was issued on Sunday.
"Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to reorganise the Wakf Board under the new Act," an official told news agency PTI.
Invoking its authority under Section 13(1) of the Wakf Act, 1995, as amended in 2025, the Madhya Pradesh government constituted the board in line with the provisions laid down in Section 14 of the Act.
The Wakf Board functions as a statutory authority entrusted with the administration and protection of Wakf properties across the state. Its mandate includes maintaining records of Wakf assets, supervising their management and income, preventing encroachments, and ensuring that the properties are used for religious, educational and social welfare purposes.
Alongside chairman Sanwar Patel, the board comprises Najma Heptulla from New Delhi, Atif Aqueel from Bhopal, Faizan Khan from Ujjain, Fatema Choudhary from Indore, Shaista Sultan, Shabana Khan, Manoj Malpani from Indore and Animesh Bhargava from Raghogarh in Guna. The Commissioner of the Backwards Classes and Minority Welfare Department will serve as an ex-officio member.
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