AIMPLB: Muslim personal law board opposes Supreme Court's order on homosexuality, to file appeal

By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, April 18: Senior Muslim scholars from across the country will gather here to take stock of the legal cases pending in Supreme Court and various High Courts on a variety of issues including homosexuality, adoption, the Qazi system, Babri Masjid, and the direct taxes code.
The executive committee of All India Muslim Personal Law Board will hold its two-day session in the city from April 23. Scholars from the eminent Islamic seminary, Darul Uloom in Deoband, will also participate in the deliberations mainly aimed at reviewing the legal cases affecting the Islamic jurisprudence or Shariat. The AIMPLB is meeting in Hyderabad after a gap of nine years.
According to Abdul Rahim Qureshi, spokesperson of AIMPLB, the meeting will take stock of the situation arising out of the SC order making homosexuality legal. "The SC order has greater impact on society. We have already filed a case in the apex court. The meeting will discuss the ways and means of taking the case further," he said.
Referring to Direct Taxes Code, Abdul Rahim Qureshi said it would have a severe impact on religious places and charitable organisations. At present places of worship are exempt from income tax. Also donations made to religious organisations are exempted from tax. But the new Direct Taxes Code is silent on these issues.
"There's no concept of adoption in Islam. The institution of Qazis (Darul Qazzat) has been challenged as illegal. Also there's a case relating to maintenance and law of inheritance. AIMPLB has filed appeals on these issues," he said.
The Right to Education Act will make the functioning of madarasas difficult. It will also infringe on the rights of minorities to run educational institutions. There are several loopholes in the Wakf Amendment Bill. It was passed in the Lok Sabha but the Rajya Sabha has referred it to a select committee.
On the Babri Masjid issue, he said the AIMPLB is a party to the title dispute. Four appeals have been filed in Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court order on Babri Masjid.