Waqf advice to qazis to be careful on talaq cases

The Telangana State Waqf Board (SWB) on Wednesday advised qazis to be careful while processing cases of divorce (talaq) even as it requested them to counsel the couple so that there are chances of reconciliation.

Both hereditary and government-appointed qazis and board officials discussed the issue at a consultative meeting at the office of the board in Haj House.The session saw SWB chairman Mohammed Saleem and member Syed Akbar Nizamuddin Hussaini interacting with qazis.

Touching upon the issue of marriages to citizens from West Asian countries, Hussaini pointed out that the law of the land must be followed. Since the law says that no minor girl should be married, the board



member told qazis not to solemnise marriages of those who are less than 18 years of age.“Qazis would have erred if they do this as the law does not permit it. They will be responsible for breaking the law of the land,“ he said.

Qazis were also asked to not issue `one-sided' divorce papers. Divorce proceedings should take place when both sides are present, they added.

However, the practice is being followed by several hereditary qazis such as Qazi Ikramullah and Noorul Asfiya, who is the head qazi of Secunderabad, among others. The SWB itself runs a marriage counselling centre with a retired judge, a qazi and a member of the clergy as its members.