Chhattisgarh HC Declares Sharia Courts Lacking Authority to Dissolve Marriages

The Chhattisgarh High Court, sitting in Raipur, delivered a landmark judgment stating that Sharia courts lack the legal power to dissolve marriages. The decision clarifies that matters of marital dissolution fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of civil courts in India.

In its ruling, the court emphasized that Sharia courts are advisory bodies and cannot issue binding orders for divorce. The judgment was prompted by a petition filed by a civil society group seeking to protect the rights of women in interfaith marriages.

The High Court’s pronouncement aligns with the Indian Constitution’s mandate that all marriages and divorces be governed by civil law, ensuring uniformity and protection of individual rights across the country.

Legal experts noted that the ruling reaffirms the secular nature of the Indian legal system and underscores the importance of adhering to statutory provisions in matrimonial matters.