JK Assy passes Shariat Bill

Jammu, Feb 9 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today passed the Shariat Bill with the recommendation of the Select Committee.

The bill was moved by Leader of Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather as Private Members Bill of 2005 providing for application of Muslim Personal law to Muslim of the state to bring them at par with rest of the country.

Speaking on the necessity of the Bill, Mr Rather said the Bill aims at uniform application of Muslim Personal Law in the state as is prevalent in whole of the country to eliminate the duplicity created by the prevalence of customary laws in some areas of the state.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig speaking on the Bill said there are many aspects of customs, which require consolidated view for which government should constitute a committee. He said he subscribes to it but wants the bill to come from the government.

Mr Rather said that all Muslims should be governed by Muslim Law as is applicable in the rest of the country. He said customs should not over rule the Shariat law.

Javed Mustafa Mir putting forth his viewpoint strongly supported the bill saying that every Muslim must be governed by Shariat Law and customs should not have any say where Shariat Law exists.

Supporting the Bill as recommended by the Select Committee in amended form, Minister for CAPD Taj Mohi-ud-Din said the Sri Pratap Law Consolidation Act, Svt 1977, (1920 AD) consolidates, codifies and declares the laws generally administered, and to be administered, by the civil and criminal courts of the state.

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