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Shariat court has no legal status: SC

By The Assam Tribune

NEW DELHI, July 7 � Disapproving of a Shariat court issuing fatwa and order against a person who is not before it, the Supreme Court today said it has no sanction of law and has no legal status, reports PTI.

The apex court said there is �no doubt� that such a court has no legal status, while noting that in some cases, orders were being passed by them which violate human rights and punish innocent persons.

A bench headed by Justice CK Prasad said that no religion, including Islam, allows punishing innocent persons and ordered that no �Darul Qaza� should give a verdict which affects rights of a person who is not before it.

The court passed the verdict on a PIL filed by advocate Vishwa Lochan Madam questioning the constitutional validity of Shariat courts which allegedly run a parallel judicial system in the country.

The All India Personal Law Board had earlier submitted that fatwa was not binding on people and it was just an opinion of a �mufti� (cleric) and he has no power and authority to implement it. The counsel, appearing for the Board, had said if a fatwa was sought to be implemented against the wish of the person concerned, then he could approach the court of law against it.

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