The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has made an astonishing claim as the Supreme Court is at the helm of hearing a batch of petitions challenging nikah halala. It stated that the practice "cannot be challenged since it is quranic".

At a review meeting held in Delhi on Sunday, 40 leading members addressed issues pertaining to the community at length.

"Nikah halala cannot be challenged," AIMPLB secretary and legal counsel Zafaryab Jilani stated after the meeting.

"Nikah halala is a practice where you cannot marry your wife again after divorce unless she marries and consummates the marriage with someone else. It is a must that the wife is divorced again. This is as per the Quran and the board cannot have a different opinion," Jilani added.

Responding to a question on several nikah halala rackets being run for money and the exploitation of women, Jilani added that a "Nikah with an intention to have Halala is not valid" and the "culprits should be arrested as per law".

The board also decided that Shariat courts will be opened across 10 cities in India.

Darul Qaza centres traditionally deal with matters allowed under The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937. Individuals were allowed to bring matrimonial and property disputes before such centres. At present, their scope is limited to seminaries.

Shariah refers to Islamic law based on the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Mohammed, known as Ahadith.

"There is no question of Shariat courts being unconstitutional. The apex court has itself ruled that Shariat courts are not parallel to the Indian courts established as per the constitution, and hence there is no question of it being illegal," said Jilani.

The board members also discussed the Ayodhya-Babri Masjid case and decided that their legal counsel, senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan, will argue for the matter to be referred to a larger bench and till then, the arguments on the main appeal would not begin.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case of nikah Halala and polygamy from July 20.

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