Lucknow, August 19
An emergency meeting of the executive board of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board has been convened in New Delhi on August 28 to discuss the response to the notice issued by the Supreme Court.
According to executive board member Maulana Sajjad Nomani, the meeting will assess the situation arising out of the Supreme Court notices. While describing it as a “routine” meeting” Maulana Nomani said among other matters relating to reform of the Muslim community, the Supreme Court notices would also be taken up, as the AIMPLB has to file a formal reply.
Acting on a PIL challenging the legality of the Shariat courts in the light of the recent Imrana episode, a bench headed by Justices Y.K. Sabharwal had issued notices to the union government, all states and Union Territories. Besides, notices were also issued to three Muslims bodies – AIMPLB, Darul Uloom and Muslims for Secular Democracy.
Talking to The Tribune, senior advocate and member of the AIMPLB executive Zafaryab Jilani said that it would be wrong to term the Darul Qazas run by the AIMPLB as Shariat courts. “These courts only have religious sanction. They can give religious opinion and in no way can be considered a parallel system of justice”.
