BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to reconstitute its Wakf Board in accordance with the amended Wakf Act, 2025. A notification regarding the reconstitution has been published in the Madhya Pradesh Gazette, and Sanwar Patel has been appointed chairman following an order issued by the chief minister, an official spokesperson said.The newly constituted board has 10 members, including two Hindu members Manoj Malpani and Animesh Bhargava.Exercising powers under Section 13(1) of the Wakf Act, 1995 (as amended in 2025), the state government has constituted the board in line with provisions under Section 14 of the Act.The members of the new Wakf Board include Najma Heptulla (New Delhi), Atif Aqueel (Bhopal), Faizan Khan (Ujjain), Fatema Choudhary (Indore), Shaista Sultan, Shabana Khan, Manoj Malpani (Indore), Animesh Bhargava (Raghogarh, Guna), along with the Commissioner, Backwards Classes and Minority Welfare Department, who will serve as an ex-officio member.Board includes members from Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain & others The members of the new Wakf Board include Najma Heptulla (New Delhi), Atif Aqueel (Bhopal), Faizan Khan (Ujjain), Fatema Choudhary (Indore), Shaista Sultan, Shabana Khan, Manoj Malpani (Indore), Animesh Bhargava (Raghogarh, Guna), along with the Commissioner, Backwards Classes and Minority Welfare Department, who will serve as an ex-officio member.Najma Heptulla was appointed under the elected category through a notification issued on April 19, 2023, under Section 14 of the Wakf Act, 1995 (as amended in 2013). As her tenure is valid until April 18, 2028, her name has been retained in the new notification for the remaining period, the spokesperson said. TNN
