Parallel Justice?

The All India Muslim Personal Board (AIMPLB) caused widespread indignation last week when it announced its intention to open several so-called sharia courts across the country. While much of the discussion around the opening of more ‘Darul Qaza’ was uninformed and prejudiced, it is pertinent to ask, as the idea of a uniform civil code gains increased traction, whether there is a place for personal law based on religion and tradition and whether that conflicts with the law of the land. In 2014, the Supreme Court said that “Fatwas are advisory in nature and no Muslim is bound to follow those.” It added that the Darul Qaza “can be perceived as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism” with “no power or authority to enforce its orders”.