The Hindu : National : Model "nikahnama" to be finalised on Sunday

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Sunday, May 01, 2005

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National

Model "nikahnama" to be finalised on Sunday

BHOPAL: Refuting notions that population rise hinders development, the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, which began its two-day meeting here on Saturday, did not include the issue of family planning among Muslims on its agenda and said a model "nikahnama" would be finalised on Sunday.

``Despite a 75 per cent increase in its population since Independence, the country has made substantial progress in industry, agriculture, technology and other spheres. The board is of the view that a rise in population does not obstruct development,'' the AIMPLB general secretary, Abdul Rahim Qureshi, told reporters.

In the field of software technology, India's name figured next to Japan, he said adding that if the increase in population had affected development, the country could not have taken such giant strides on the path of progress. The issue of family planning was not included in the agenda of the general council meeting and it was not discussed on the opening day on Saturday, Mr. Qureshi said. The model "nikahnama," incorporating extensive rights to women, was discussed at length but members would be able to give a final shape to it only on Sunday, while there was no discussion on the minimum age for marriage of girls.

Replying to queries, he dismissed suggestions that the rate of "talaq" (divorce) was higher among Muslims than in other communities and claimed that according to certain surveys, the divorce rate was higher among Hindus compared to that among Muslims in States like Gujarat and Maharashtra.

On the demand for amendments in the model "nikahnama" by some women's groups, Mr. Quereshi said the memorandum was yet to be studied by the board. If the amendments were found to be in conformity with the sharia, they would be included in the model code, he said adding that the main objective was to lower the rate of divorce among Muslims through the model "nikahnama" and remove other loopholes.

On the question of empowering women with the right to give "talaq", he said women already had this right in Islam. PTI

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