By Rema Nagarajan; New Delhi, November 6
Under duress to curb the misuse of triple talaq, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has come up with a model nikahnaama that is expected to make talaq itself more difficult. This model nikahnaama is to be passed at the board's meeting in Calicut in December.
OBLIGATORY ARBITRATION in case of any dispute between husband and wife is the main safeguard against unilateral talaq in the new nikahnaama. First family elders, then community elders and finally the Darul Qaza, the institution for settlement of family disputes according to Shariat, will arbitrate. If all this fails they can go to a civil court.
THE MEHER (bride price given by groom) also finds mention. Half this amount will have to be given to the bride at the time of marriage, the other half whenever she wants it.
MUSLIM WOMEN'S INHERITANCE RIGHTS in agricultural land as laid down in the Shariat will be taken up. "We have submitted a memorandum to UP CM Mulayam Singh Yadav to amend the state's Zamindari Abolition Act under which women are denied share in agricultural land. He has taken no action so far," says Naseem Iqtedar Ali, a woman member of the executive committee of the AIMPLB.
The board is investigating whether laws depriving Muslim women of their inheritance is in force in other states as well.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
Posted by proutist-universal on November 7, 2004 06:22 AM