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Religion
Chhattisgarh High Court rules Sharia courts can give opinions but not grant divorces
✍️ India Today
🗓 08 Sep 2026, 12:02 PM
👁 25
The Chhattisgarh High Court clarified that Sharia courts have no legal power to dissolve marriages, restricting them to religious advisory functions.
The Chhattisgarh High Court delivered a landmark judgment stating that Sharia courts in the state are limited to issuing religious opinions and cannot legally grant divorces. The bench emphasized that marriage dissolution is a civil matter governed by Indian law, and any religious forum lacks statutory authority to terminate a marriage.
The ruling came after petitions questioned the validity of divorces pronounced by Sharia tribunals, arguing that such orders conflicted with the Uniform Civil Code provisions applicable to all citizens. The court held that while parties may seek religious guidance, the final decree must be obtained from a civil court.
Legal experts noted that the decision reinforces the separation between personal religious practices and the secular legal system, ensuring that all divorce proceedings adhere to the same procedural safeguards across India.
The ruling came after petitions questioned the validity of divorces pronounced by Sharia tribunals, arguing that such orders conflicted with the Uniform Civil Code provisions applicable to all citizens. The court held that while parties may seek religious guidance, the final decree must be obtained from a civil court.
Legal experts noted that the decision reinforces the separation between personal religious practices and the secular legal system, ensuring that all divorce proceedings adhere to the same procedural safeguards across India.