MP Waqf Board Reconstitution Sparks Legal Row as Congress MLA Moves Supreme Court

Madhya Pradesh becomes the first state to implement the Waqf Amendment Act, drawing a direct challenge from the opposition over the inclusion of non-Muslim members.

Bhopal’s corridors of power are once again the site of a high-stakes legal standoff. The Mohan Yadav-led government has made history by becoming the first in India to reconstitute its state Waqf board under the provisions of the newly enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The move, however, has triggered immediate backlash, with Congress MLA Arif Masood announcing his intent to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.

The newly gazetted 10-member board marks a radical departure from tradition, incorporating four women and, for the first time, two non-Muslim experts. While the government presents this as a step toward transparency and inclusivity, Masood—who also serves on the All India Muslim Personal Law Board—views it as a procedural overreach that defies the spirit of ongoing judicial scrutiny.

The Bone of Contention

The heart of the dispute lies in the composition of the board. Masood argues that by appointing individuals from outside the Muslim community, the state has preempted the findings of the Supreme Court. "Including members from another community in the Waqf board is unfair while the matter is still being argued in the apex court," Masood told reporters.

He further contends that the state government has been overzealous. While the law allows for a specific number of non-Muslim members, Masood alleges that the current board structure exceeds these limits by including additional officials, such as the Commissioner of Backward Classes and Minority Welfare, effectively bloating the board beyond the sanctioned mandate.

The Judicial Pulse

This confrontation comes at a time when the constitutionality of the Waqf (Amendment) Act is being debated at the highest levels. While the Supreme Court recently refused to grant a stay on the implementation of the law, it did not dismiss the underlying concerns. During recent proceedings, the Attorney General indicated that the government remained open to making improvements to the law, effectively buying time. Masood insists that this "wait-and-see" approach from the Centre makes the hasty implementation in Madhya Pradesh particularly provocative.

Why It Matters

This development is more than just a regional administrative dispute; it is a bellwether for how the amended Waqf law will be stress-tested across the country. By being the first to move, Madhya Pradesh has effectively become a pilot project for the BJP’s vision of reformed religious endowments.

If the Supreme Court eventually finds that the inclusion of non-Muslim members contravenes the fundamental nature of the Waqf, the MP government’s notification could be rendered void, creating a massive administrative headache. Conversely, if the court upholds the inclusion, it will set a significant legal precedent for secular oversight of religious trusts, fundamentally altering the autonomy that such bodies have historically enjoyed. For now, the legal battle in Delhi will determine whether this new, diverse board survives its first term.