Bombay High Court affirms Muslim men’s right to register multiple marriages
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has ruled that a Muslim man can register more than one marriage under the Maharashtra Regulation of Marriage Bureaus and Registration of Marriages Act, 1998. The court highlighted that Muslim personal law allows multiple marriages, and there is no provision in the Act preventing the registration of such marriages.
A bench comprising Justice BP Colabawalla and Justice Somasekhar Sundareshan stated that s.7(1)(a) of the Act requires that marriages be registered in accordance with personal laws, which in the case of Muslims, permits up to four wives. The ruling came in response to a petition filed by an Indian man and his Algerian wife after the Thane Municipal Corporation refused to register their marriage—his third.
The authorities claimed the petitioners failed to provide necessary documentation and argued that the Act allows only one marriage to be registered for Muslim men. However, the couple’s advocate countered that all required documents had been submitted, and the authorities had previously registered the man’s second marriage to a Moroccan citizen.
The Court rejected the argument that only one marriage could be registered, stating that this interpretation would undermine Muslim personal laws. It instructed the Corporation to hold a personal hearing, following which a reasoned order should be issued within ten days.
The Court also protected the wife from deportation while the registration process is pending and for two weeks after its conclusion.
Senior Advocate Arshad Shaikh, with advocates Devansh Malhotra and Hafeezur Rahman, represented the couple. Advocate Anand S. Kulkarni appeared for the Thane Municipal Corporation.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
BJP holds protests against Kejriwal, alleges misuse of taxpayers' money in 'Sheeshmahal'
New Delhi (PTI): BJP leaders and workers staged protests across the city, accusing AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal of spending taxpayers' money on personal comfort during his tenure as Delhi chief minister.
The BJP leaders alleged that Kejriwal spent crores on lavish items and modern facilities at his official residence at 6 Flagstaff Road.
Kejriwal after resigning as Delhi Chief minister vacated the Flagstaff Road bungalow in Civil Lines earlier this month.
In a protest near Kejriwal's current residence on Firozshah Road, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva alleged that 15 toilet seats installed at "Sheeshmahal" (Flagstaff Road bungalow) after spending lakhs of rupees were missing.
"We are protesting to tell people how Kejriwal spent taxpayers money on toilet seats worth Rs 12 lakhs. Fifteen such toilet seats were stolen," Sachdeva charged.
The AAP has remained silent over the issue, with Chief Minister Atishi earlier stating that the BJP could "take over" the Flagstaff Road bungalow and she will continue to work for Delhi's people even if she had to do it sitting on the street.
"Arvind Kejriwal will have to give an account of the crores of rupees from the taxpayers money spent on providing him a luxurious stay at the Sheeshmahal," Sachdeva said.
Alka Gurjar, co-incharge of Delhi BJP, said the issue directly impacts the people as taxpayers' money was involved and AAP cannot be allowed to "loot" it.
