Ban On Polygamy, Fix Minimum Age For Marriage: Muslim Rashtriya Manch

New Delhi, 5 September: Women’s delegation of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) met Law Commission Chairman Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi. During this, the delegation submitted its suggestions on the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the main of which was the determination of the minimum age of marriage of girls and the abolition of polygamy.

A delegation of around 20 women, led by Shalini Ali, head of the women’s wing of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, met Justice Awasthi at his office on Monday and submitted a memorandum supporting the move to introduce UCC in the country.

Shalini Ali suggested linking marriage registration with an Aadhaar card so that polygamy could not happen. During the meeting, a sample of Nikahnama has also been sought from the forum which can be presented for the safety of women. Zahira Begum, Babli Parveen, Shama Khan, Anwar Jahan, Professor Shadab Tabassum, Professor Shereen, Dr. Shaheen Jafri, Professor Sonu Bhati, and other women participated in the meeting along with Shalini Ali.

During the meeting, Justice Awasthi said that there is a lot of confusion among various sections of the society regarding the draft UCC, but people need not worry about anything. It came out clearly in the meeting that UCC will empower the people of the country irrespective of their religion.

The media in charge of Muslim Rashtriya Manch Shahid Sayeed talked in detail about the meeting. He said that earlier two delegations of the MRM had met the Law Commission Chairman Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi on different occasions. The media in charge said that mainly eight to ten things were kept from us, which are as follows:—

1. The forum emphasized gender equality. It was said on behalf of the MRM that gender equality is very important for the development of our society. Women and men are the basic pillars of the society. Gender inequality in society is a deliberately created chasm that makes the journey to achieve the level of equality very difficult.

2. Equal protection of law like abolishing child marriage and setting minimum age for marriage. It was said from the side of the forum that in many places, girls are married at the age of 12 to 14 and the side effect of this is that till the age of 21 or 22, that is, till the age of mental development, the girl child will have 4 to 6 children. becomes a mother and the future of the family becomes bleak.

3. Grant of adoption rights to both the parents. Can legally adopt under the Act, 1956 in India. However, Muslims, Christians, and Parsis do not have any separate adoption law and they have to approach the court under the Guardians and Wards Act, of 1890. Therefore, there is a need to work on this also.

4. Polygamy not to be allowed. The colonial rule of the British in India brought changes in the Indian culture and matrimonial practices. Among many other progressive changes, polygamy was outlawed under section 494 of the Indian Penal Code of 1860. After independence, the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 outlawed the practice of polygamy among Hindus. The Manch believes that it should be made applicable to all religions, communities, and classes. The latest NFHS-5 survey of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) states that although polygamy is not legal in India for any community other than Muslims, it still continues to be practiced in some sections of society in India.

5. Marriage should be done by religious methods and it should be registered. Divorce should also be done by registered methods but a valid reason is necessary for this.

6. Religious ceremonies, customs, and rituals can be followed i.e. they are allowed but it should be kept in mind that no misbehavior with any other religion, caste, or community should happen during this time.

7. Wrong practices prohibited in any religion are strictly prohibited in the developing society and the Law Commission should also recommend strict steps on this.

8. There should be equal rights in all matters of property whether by inheritance or self-ownership and also in agriculture.