Shah Bano's husband dead

Indore, Apr 4 (UNI) Senior Advocate Mohammad Ahmed Khan, the husband of late Shah Bano whose court battle for maintenance after divorce from him created a social upheaval, died here this morning.

He was 94. Ms Bano passed away some years back.

A 62-year-old Muslim and mother of five from Indore, she was divorced in 1978. As she had no means to support herself and her children, Ms Bano approached the courts for securing maintenance.

When the case reached the Supreme Court, seven years had elapsed.

The apex court invoked section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code and ruled that she be provided maintenance money, similar to alimony.

Fundamentalist Muslims perceived it as an encroachment on Muslim Personal Law and protested against the judgement.

In 1986, during the premiership of Mr Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress enjoyed absolute majority in Parliament and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act was passed nullifying the judgement.

Critics strongly contend that this act was passed in order to appease minorities and safeguard the Muslim vote bank.

UNI AA-AC LR HT1540