Supreme Court: 'Sharia Courts', 'Court of Kazi' Have No Legal Recognition, their Decisions are Non-Binding

The Supreme Court reaffirmed that 'Sharia Courts', ‘Courts of Kazi’, and similar bodies have no legal recognition and their decisions are non-binding. 

The court ruled this while upholding a woman's right to maintenance despite a talaqnama issued by the court of Kazi.

The Court found that a Family Court wrongly denied her maintenance under Section 125 CrPC by relying on the Kazi’s divorce deed.

Referring to the Vishwa Lochan Madan case, the Court reiterated that only statutory courts have judicial authority. The husband was directed to pay ₹4,000 monthly maintenance. (Shahjahan vs State of Uttar Pradesh)