The Madras High Court has banned all unauthorised Sharia courts in mosques across Tamil Nadu, saying centres of worship were only to be used for religious purposes.
The court’s pronouncement came in response to a PIL filed by a non-resident Indian mentioning that such sharia courts are operating as a court of law from mosques and dealt largely with matrimonial disputes, even going to the extent of passing divorce orders.
Judgement:
- Complete ban on all unauthorised Sharia courts functioning in premises of mosques.
- Religious places and other places of worships are meant only for religious purposes.
- Tamil Nadu State government to ensure that such unauthorised courts do not function.
SC’s View:
Earlier in 2014, Supreme Court had refused to ban Sharia courts saying the interpretations made by Islamic judges and are not legally binding. It even held that these courts could pass verdicts only when individuals submit to them voluntarily.