The Madhya Pradesh Department of Backward Classes and Minority Welfare has reorganised the State Waqf Board under the updated regulations which are part of the 2025 amendment. The reorganised board has 2 Hindu members as well. With this, Madhya Pradesh has become the first Indian state to have Hindu members as part of the board.
A gazette notification regarding this was issued on Sunday, July 5, appointing Sanwar Patel as the chairman of the board. Manoj Malpani and Animesh Bhargava are the 2 Hindu members of the reorganised board.
The state government has reconstituted the board exercising the powers conferred by Section 13(1) of the Waqf Act, 1995 (amended in 2025). The state government has constituted the Waqf Board as provided in Section 14 of the Act.
Waqf Amendment Bill, is a major legislative reform passed by the Indian Parliament in 2025. The main goals of this bill are to enhance transparency in Waqf Boards, to bring greater accountability in the functioning of the boards, and to have government oversight in the management of Waqf properties in India.
Waqf Board is a statutory body which was established to manage and protect Waqf properties.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the board Sanwar Patel has issued a warning to all those who are outraged by the decision to include Hindus in the Waqf Board, telling them clearly that things will run as per the constitution.
