SC told to recognise media reports

New Delhi, Jan 3 (UNI) Vishwa Lochan Madan, an advocate who has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking ban on shariat courts on the grounds that these courts are working as parallel courts in the country, in his rejoinder has contended that media reports should be recognised and approved by the judiciary and should not be ignored like whistle in the air.

Lochan has accused the Central government of pursuing the policy of appeasement of its vote bank. In his rejoinder filed today, he has refuted the stand taken by the Central government that Shariat courts were not running parallel judicial system in the country and were only negotiating to reconcile the feuding spouses to save their matrimonial lives and homes and there was nothing wrong in it.

Lochan has alleged that the counter filed by the Central government was simple repetition of the counter filed by the Muslim Personal Law Board which amounts to total appeasement.

Describing media as a strong pillar of democracy, the petitioner has also contended that no political party was willing to espouse the cause of secular democractic India and risk its fortunes.

The petitioner has also pleaded that Darul courts have been interfering in the personal lives of the people by issuing fatwas and dictats on dress code in Tennis tournaments and on watching TV.

The dress code reference relates to the objection raised by the muslim clergy to the dress put on by Tennis star Sania Mirza.

UNI