India
Congress: Those giving it political colour are playing games | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Congress spokesperson and senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi welcomed the High Council disposal of maintenance rights of Muslim women but warned that those who read “mischievous and deliberate” politics into the judgment were playing unnecessary games. Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba She too was pleased with the ruling, which she said would provide justice to needy women regardless of their religion.
Singhvi said it was too late for the plaintiff, as he did in this case, to argue that the right to maintenance and support as enshrined in the secular law does not apply to married Muslim women as that had been decided several times before and the Supreme Court was merely “reiterating, reapplying and strengthening” the settled law of the land.
“The obligation to maintain a married woman is irrespective of religion and is gender-specific for the purpose of providing support to women but religion-neutral. That is what the Supreme Court has said and the judgment deserves to be welcomed,” Singhvi said.
“It is a well-established principle of law that has been applied by the Supreme Court in a specific case and it should not be politically coloured, as some quarters are trying to do,” he added.
Lamba said: “The judgement has seen women as women, and not as their religion. I have spoken to many women from the Muslim community and they are very happy. This judgement will ensure that women are not dependent in life, and can raise their children and take care of themselves. The judgement must be implemented immediately.”
Singhvi said it was too late for the plaintiff, as he did in this case, to argue that the right to maintenance and support as enshrined in the secular law does not apply to married Muslim women as that had been decided several times before and the Supreme Court was merely “reiterating, reapplying and strengthening” the settled law of the land.
“The obligation to maintain a married woman is irrespective of religion and is gender-specific for the purpose of providing support to women but religion-neutral. That is what the Supreme Court has said and the judgment deserves to be welcomed,” Singhvi said.
“It is a well-established principle of law that has been applied by the Supreme Court in a specific case and it should not be politically coloured, as some quarters are trying to do,” he added.
Lamba said: “The judgement has seen women as women, and not as their religion. I have spoken to many women from the Muslim community and they are very happy. This judgement will ensure that women are not dependent in life, and can raise their children and take care of themselves. The judgement must be implemented immediately.”
