Sharia Courts have no legal sanctity, fatwas illegal: Supreme Court

New Delhi: 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.

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 C K Prasad said that no religion, including Islam, allows punishing innocent persons and ordered that no 'Darul Qaza' should give verdict, which affects rights of a person who is not before it.

The court passed the verdict on Monday 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.

Madan had stated that institutions like Darul Qaza and Darul-iftaa are operating like parallel courts, which rule decisions on the fundamental rights of Muslim citizens.

Reportedly, he also said that religious clerics qazis and muftis appointed by these courts cannot take a call on the liberty of the Muslims by issuing fatwas and curtail their fundamental rights.

Madan argued that the Darul Qaza and Darul-iftaa operate in Muslim dominated areas where people cannot oppose their rulings.

According to reports, the petitioner gave an example stating that a Muslim girl had to desert her husband because a fatwa ordered her to live with her father-in-law who had allegedly raped her.

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.

The petitioner had submitted that the fundamental rights of Muslims could not be controlled and curtailed through fatwas issued by 'qazis' and 'muftis' appointed by Muslim organizations.