Muslim board to explore ways to overturn Supreme Court’s alimony verdict

Muslim board challenges Supreme Court verdict on maintenance for Muslim women, opposes Uniform Civil Code, and supports Palestine.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on July 14 asserted that the Supreme Court verdict on maintenance to Muslim women was against Islamic law and authorised its president to explore all possible measures to ensure that this decision is overturned.

The board also decided to challenge in the Uttarakhand High Court the Uniform Civil Code brought in the State.

After a meeting of its working committee in New Delhi, the board adopted a resolution which stated that the recent judgment of the Supreme Court on the maintenance of Muslim divorcee women is "against the Islamic law (Shariah)".

Also Read | SC verdict on Muslim women’s maintenance: Religious bodies opt for cautious approach

The Muslim body's assertions came days after the Supreme Court ruled that a Muslim woman can seek maintenance from her husband under Section 125 of the CrPC and said the "religion neutral" provision is applicable to all married women irrespective of their religion.

A bench of justices B.V. Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih in a separate but concurring verdict said, "(a) Section 125 of the CrPC applies to all married women including Muslim married women. (b) Section 125 of the CrPC applies to all non-Muslim divorced women."

In a statement, issued after the meeting, the AIMPLB said, "The Board emphasised that the Holy Prophet had mentioned that amongst all permissible deeds the most abhorred is divorce in the sight of Allah, hence it is desirable to continue the marriage by applying all permissible measures to safeguard it and follow several guidelines mentioned in Holy Quran about it."