Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government has appointed two Hindu members to the state Wakf Board, becoming the first state to implement a 2025 amendment that mandated non-Muslims to serve on Wakf bodies.
Manoj Malpani of Indore and Animesh Bhargava of Raghogarh were named to the board. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav appointed Sanvar Patel as chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Wakf Board. Other nominated members include former Union minister Nejmi Heptullah, Atif Aqeel, Faizan Khan, Fatima Chaudhary, Shaista Sultan and Shabna Khan. The Minority Welfare Department commissioner will serve on the board as an ex-officio member.
The central government’s 2025 amendment to Wakf laws, which mandated representation on Wakf councils and boards to include non-Muslim communities and strengthened oversight through Wakf tribunals, drew controversy when it was introduced. The amendment requires representation for non-Muslim sections on Wakf councils and Wakf boards; Madhya Pradesh is the first state to put that provision into practice after the law came into force in April 2025.