The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) which has the authority of taking decisions on issues of the Muslims today wants to increase its influence by opening sharia courts in every district of the country. This is shocking news coming from the highest authority which decides on cases related to the Muslims laws in India. The sharia courts so opened will decide matters related to ‘Triple Talaq and virasat’ (divorce and inheritance) according to senior members of the AIMPLB. Zafaryab Jilani, senior member of the AIMPLB told PTI, “At present there are 40 such courts in Uttar Pradesh. We plan to open one such court in all districts of the country. The objective of Darul-Qaza is to resolve matters in light of Sharia laws instead of going to other courts.” This is a saddening statement coming from a senior member of the elite Muslim board which wants to be seen as the authority having final say in all matters related to the minorities.
Statements and thoughts like these which are voiced from time to time make the implementation of Uniform Civil Code a must in our society. Immediate implementation of the uniform civil code will ensure that no such demands should arise in the future. It is astonishing how the same minority bodies advocate and demand more rights and incentives for their groups from time to time but that does not stop them from making tall claims about setting up parallel courts to judge matters which they believe are their own.
Elaborating further about the plans to expand the sharia courts in districts across India, Jilanai said that a meeting of AIMPLB will take place in New Delhi on July 15th to discuss ways for organizing funds for the smooth functioning of the proposed courts. It also plans to activate its Tafheem-e-Shariyat (TeS) committee which according to Zilani will make lawyers, judges and common man aware about Sharia laws. “The committee used to organise conferences and workshops all over the country with Islamic experts trying to delve in details about Sharia laws and address queries of participants. It is felt that the committee should be activated and more such programs should be held,” Zilani added.
It is indeed worrying that the AIMPLB is trying to push the Sharia courts all across India, very soon the situation might deteriorate even further if left unchecked today. There is simply no place for a parallel law making or enforcing unit in the country today. The Indian judicial system is capable enough for taking care of the Indian masses, Hindus, Muslims and all other religions alike. It is neither biased in favour of one religion nor in favour of one sex. Sharia courts in the country will not help the country in the days to come. They will neither help the Muslims as any decision given by a Sharia court will not be binding on the person.
There is simply no way in which the central government should allow for further expansion of the sharia courts in India. Some senior BJP ministers have already expressed dissatisfaction with the AIMPLB’s declaration and other voices need to join them in order to stop this from happening. There is no place for sharia law in a country like India which prides itself on diversity of religion and culture. All the political parties should come out and speak up against this because if they stay quiet today owing to minority appeasement tactics, India will suffer in the long run.
