The Hindu : Front Page : Make it optional, suggests Muslim Personal Law Board

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 26, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Make it optional, suggests Muslim Personal Law Board

Special Correspondent

Marriage registration judgment well received

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court judgment on compulsory registration of marriages has been received well by Muslims. But the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said while it was “not against the spirit of registration of marriages, it should be made optional.”

Cumbersome

“The Shariat already has a provision for registration of marriages with the Imam or the Qazi which could be held valid for all practical purposes. Re-registration could be cumbersome and possibly create problems since a large population of the Muslims is illiterate,” S.Q.R. Ilyas, board spokesman, told The Hindu.

“We would prefer registration being made optional but if it is made compulsory, the State governments should take into consideration the opinions of all social groups including Muslims while drafting the rules.”

Mr. Ilyas said he had seen the draft of the bill made by the National Commission for Women and realised that its implementation could create problems. This needed to be looked into. He, however, agreed that registration would safeguard women’s rights. Siddique Hassan, vice-president of the Jamiat-i-Islami, said registration was taking in place in most States and the Shariat itself provided for documentation of marriages with the religious heads. In fact, registration would help in resolving disputes.

Foolproof arrangement

Tasleem Rehmani of the Muslim Political Council of India said Muslim Personal Laws provided for documentation of all kinds of agreements, including marriage. If the government provided a foolproof arrangement for registration of marriage before a Qazi at the district level, there should be no objection. “The resistance is from a small group of representatives on the AIMPLB who interpret the Koran literally and not in the modern context. All Muslims with an open viewpoint must welcome it,” he said.

A jubilant Girija Vyas, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, said the judgment would safeguard the rights of women in all communities, prevent child marriage and the problem faced by women in marriages with non-resident Indians.

She said a marriage certificate could be issued just as local authorities gave a birth certificate or a death certificate.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page