Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to reorganise its Waqf Board under the provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The state government has formed a new 10-member board and included two Hindu members in it. Officials said this is the first state-level Waqf Board in India to have Hindu members after the new law came into effect.

The state government issued a gazette notification on Sunday to announce the new board. Sanwar Patel has been appointed as the chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board. Manoj Malpani and Animesh Bhargava have been named as the two Hindu members. The remaining members have also been appointed under the provisions of the amended law.

Officials said the reorganisation follows the legal framework introduced through the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. “Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to reorganise the Waqf Board under the new Act,” an official said.

The state government exercised the powers granted under Section 13(1) of the Waqf Act, 1995, which was amended in 2025. It constituted the new Waqf Board in accordance with Section 14 of the Act. Officials said the process followed the provisions laid down in the amended legislation.

The Waqf Board is a statutory body that manages and protects Waqf properties across the state. It plays an important role in maintaining records of these properties and ensuring that they are used for their intended purposes. The board also keeps track of the income generated from Waqf properties and monitors their proper use.

Another major responsibility of the board is to protect Waqf properties from encroachment. It also ensures that these properties continue to serve religious, educational and social welfare purposes. The board oversees the administration of these properties and works to safeguard them under the provisions of the law.

The inclusion of two Hindu members marks a significant change in the composition of the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board after the implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Officials said the state is the first in the country to complete the reorganisation under the new law. The government has constituted the board by following the powers and procedures specified in the amended Waqf Act. With the new board now in place, it will continue to carry out its statutory responsibilities related to the management, protection and administration of Waqf properties across Madhya Pradesh.