The Madras High Court on Monday banned illegal 'Sharia courts' functioning on the premises of mosques in Tamil Nadu and directed the state government to ensure that its order was strictly followed.
The court also asked the government to file a status report within a month.
Places of worship were meant only for religious purposes, said a bench comprises Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M. Sundar.
The order came on a public interest litigation filed by one Abdul Rahman who had alleged that Sharia courts were functioning like regular courts from various mosques in Chennai and other parts of the state. These courts also passed divorce orders and summoned parties related to disputes, he had said.
The petitioner said that the Sharia councils had created an impression among Muslims that it had been functioning as per Sharia law and that all its orders and judgments were religiously binding on Muslims.
