Directing the Tamil Nadu government to curb unauthorised 'Sharia' courts, the Madras High Court on Monday, declared all sharia courts working out of mosques as illegal.

Directing the Tamil Nadu government to curb unauthorised 'Sharia' courts, the Madras High Court on Monday, declared all sharia courts working out of mosques as illegal, reported ANI.

The High Court made it clear that religious places are meant to be used only for religious purposes.

The High Court bench comprising of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar also ordered the Tamil Nadu government to file a status report within four weeks, The Times of India reported.

The court passed the order after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Abdur Rahman, senior advocate A Sirajudeen told IANS.

The petitioner, an England-based NRI had first sought the intervention of a Shariat Council functioning from the Makkah Masjid in Chennai to reunite him with his wife. However, the Council forced him to divorce his wife following which he decided to approach the High Court.

The litigant's senior counsel, however, said that the PIL was filed to in larger public interest to safeguard the interests of large number of Muslims who suffered due to the Islamic courts, according to The Times of India.

The Makkah Masjid is located on Anna Salai, Chennai's main arterial street.

Madras High Court bans Unauthorised 'Sharia' courts functioning in mosque premises in Tamil Nadu. — ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2016

The Madras High court has directed Tamil Nadu Govt not to allow such unauthorised courts and file a report within four weeks. — ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2016

With inputs from IANS