WAKF BOARD, KAZIS DIFFER OVER NIKAH FEES

Conflict has arisen between kazis and Wakf Board authorities over fixation of fee for solemnising nikah (marriages). A meeting has been convened by the Wakf Board with the kazis on August 5 to streamline the fee structure.

Anjuman Quzatth, the association of kazis, said that over the years, the fee has increased from `2,000 to

`3,000.

For solemnizing the nikah in January this year, kazis collected `2,000 from the bridegroom’s side and `1,000 from the bride’s side. There are complaints that certain kazis are collecting excessive charges.

The High Court had observed in Writ Petition No.

4701 of 1998 that, under the provisions of the Act, no power is conferred either on the state government or the Wakf Board to deal with, fix, meddle with or intervene in the fee structure in respect of duties and functions of kazis or naib kazis.

Khazi Syed Noor-ul-Asfiah, president of Anjuman, justified the nikah fee saying this was like a gift taken in other faiths by those who perform religious rituals linked to the wedding.

“We are taking very less money compared to those of other faiths. We provide our services at the places desired by the families. Sometimes, when we reach the place at the given time, the bride or bridegroom does not arrive and we have to either wait for hours or visit the place again.”

He said every kaazi maintains an office for this purpose and keeps a record of each nikah.

“In our offices, we preserve the record of nikahs performed for the past over a century and provide a certified copy on demand.”