Congress MLA Arif Masood on Monday opposed the Madhya Pradesh government’s decision to reconstitute the state Waqf Board with non-Muslim members, alleging that the move is premature as the matter is currently under trial before the Supreme Court.
The state government recently reconstituted the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board under the provisions of the new Waqf Act, making it the first state in the country to do so. The newly formed Board of Directors includes, for the first time, two non-Muslim experts and four female members. The council consists of 10 members.
Reacting to this development, Masood, who is also a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), claimed that the issue of inclusion of members from outside the Muslim community was one of the main points being considered by the Supreme Court.
“Including members of another sect in the Waqf Board is unfair as the matter is still under discussion in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court itself has taken note of two issues, one of which is that a person from another sect should not be included. The court has made this observation based on the arguments given by us, the Personal Status Board and other petitioners,” Masood told ANI.
The Congress leader said it is true that the Supreme Court did not agree to a stay of execution, because the Attorney General told the court that if necessary, the government would make improvements and seek time.
“When the entire process is still ongoing, why did the Madhya Pradesh government act so quickly. Other state governments across the country do not take such decisions, yet the Mohan Yadav government does so. Moreover, another violation is that this provision was for two members from another community, but you appointed three (referring to two members in addition to the Backward Classes and Minority Welfare Commissioner). I am objecting to this decision and will move to the Supreme Court for this purpose,” he said.
In a first-of-its-kind move, the state government included two Hindu members in the newly formed 10-member board. A notification regarding the reconstitution was issued in the Madhya Pradesh Gazette.
Besides, Sanwar Patel has been appointed Chairman of the MP Endowment Board. The two Hindu members listed on the board are Manoj Malpani from Indore and Animesh Bhargava from Raghugarh, Juna.
The newly appointed board members include Najma Heptola (New Delhi), Atif Aqeel (MLA Bhopal North), Faizan Khan (Ujjain), Sister Fatima Chowdhury (Indore), Shaista Sultan (MLA Berasia Bhopal) and Shabana Khan (MLA Ratlam). In addition, the Commissioner for Backward Classes and Minority Welfare has also been appointed as a member.
On April 5, 2025, President Draupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Endowment (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed by Parliament after heated debates in both the Houses.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board had already filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
