Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to reconstitute its Waqf Board under the recently amended legal framework, following a decision by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

In a notable move, the state government has included two Hindu members in the newly constituted 10-member board. An official notification regarding the reconstitution has been published in the Madhya Pradesh Gazette.

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Sanwar Patel has been appointed chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board. The two Hindu members on the board are Manoj Malpani from Indore and Animesh Bhargava from Raghogarh in Guna district.

The reconstitution has been carried out under Section 13(1) of the Waqf Act, 1995 (Amended 2025), in accordance with the provisions of Section 14 of the Act.

Other members of the board include Najma Heptulla (New Delhi), MLA Atif Aqueel (Bhopal North), Faizan Khan (Ujjain), Sister Fatema Choudhary (Indore), Shaista Sultan (Councillor, Berasia, Bhopal), and Shabana Khan (Councillor, Ratlam). The Commissioner of Backward Classes and Minority Welfare has also been included as a member.

According to the notification, Najma Heptulla, who was appointed in April 2023 under the elected category, will continue her tenure until April 18, 2028, as part of the new board structure.

Officials said the reconstitution marks a significant administrative step aimed at implementing the amended provisions of the Waqf Act more effectively.

The Waqf Board is a statutory body responsible for the management and protection of Waqf properties in the state. Its key functions include maintaining records of such properties, monitoring their use and income, preventing encroachment, and ensuring they are utilised for religious, social welfare and educational purposes