Man moves Hyderabad High Court against Sharia Council

Hyderabad: A Tolichowki resident has approached the High Court questioning the legality of the Sharia Council functioning in the city. 

Mr Mohd Abdul Sami filed the petition after the Sada-e-Haq Sharia Council annulled his marriage with Ms Samina of Parigi, an MTech graduate. The court directed the police to investigate and submit a report. 

The Sharia Council is an Islamic court having no recognition from the government. People approach the council as orders are passed on the Sharia.

Mr Sami married Parigi resident Samina in January 2016. She filed a harassment case with the Parigi police and the trial is underway in a Vikarabad court.

On September 18, Ms Samina’s parents approa-ched the Sada-e-Haq Sharia Council and filed an application detailing her plight. They accused Mr Sami of harassing and torturing her and sought annulment of the marriage.

The council annulled the marriage based on certain clauses of the Muslim Personal Law (Sharia) Application Act, 1937, said Asifnagar ACP K. Ashok Chakravarthy. 

Mr Sami approached the High Court and questioned the legality of the Sharia Council and its judgement.

The ACP on Thursday approached the Jamia Nizamia and sought its opinion. “The council is functioning as a parallel court which is not permitted under laws. We are waiting for the opinion of the Jamia Nizamia before proceeding,” he said.

Mr Mohd Mohiuddin of the council said it comprised scholars and academics who are well-versed with Islamic laws.

Collector gets three weeks
The Hyderabad High Court has granted three weeks to the Nalgonda collector to regularise services of 15 daily wage workers working in government residential schools.

Justice P. Naveen Rao was dealing with a contempt case filed by Ms Ch Muthamma and 14 others seeking to punish the collector for not regularising their services despite a court order. The order passed nine months ago had directed the collector to regularise their services within four weeks.

Collector Gavrau Uppal, appearing before the court, urged Justice Naveen Rao to grant him eight weeks to regularise the services of the petitioners. He said he had written to the government for permission.

Mr S. Satyanarayana Rao, counsel for the workers, urged the court reduce the time. Justice Rao granted Mr Uppal three weeks.