MP Waqf Board Reconstituted: First to Include Hindu Members Under New Law
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has reorganised the State Waqf Board, incorporating two Hindu members, according to officials. The new board, formed under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, is the first state-level Waqf Board in the country to have Hindu members.
A gazette notification issued on Sunday (July 5, 2026) appointed Sanwar Patel as chairman of the 10-member Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board. Manoj Malpani and Animesh Bhargava have been included as Hindu members.
An official stated that Madhya Pradesh has become the first state to reorganise the Waqf Board under the new Act. The state government, exercising powers under Section 13(1) of the Waqf Act, 1995 (amended in 2025), constituted the board as per Section 14 of the Act.
The Waqf Board is a statutory body established to manage and protect Waqf properties in the state. Its primary functions include maintaining records, monitoring use and income, preventing encroachment, and ensuring properties serve religious, educational, and social welfare purposes. The inclusion of non-Muslim members marks a significant shift in the board's composition, reflecting the amendments to the central law.
