Ignoring the clamour within the community over the controversial circular on Muslim marriages dated June 14, a prominent section of Muslim clerics is still demanding the legalisation of marriages of Muslim girls and boys above the age of 15. According to the members of the Authorised Association of Qasis and Muslim Mahals of Kerala, decisions on marriage, dissolution of marriage including talaq, idda, dowry etc purely depend upon the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat).
The circular that directed registrars in the local bodies to legalise marriages between Muslim girls aged above 16 and boys below 21 was based on Muslim Personal Law. Though the state government has legally cancelled the circular that allowed the marriage registration of Muslim women between 16 and 18 years and issued another one on June 28 that directed local bodies to register all marriages solemnised till Thursday based on the Kerala Registration of Marriages Rules in 2008, clerics and leaders still stand for the circular claiming that the Indian Constitution has approved Shariat.
Authorised Association of Qasis and Muslim Mahals of Kerala general secretary N Noorudheen Musaliyar said, “As per the Muslim Personal Law, 1937, attaining the age of 18 for Muslim girl and age of 21 for Muslim boy is not a requirement at the time of the wedlock with the permission of parents. We are not forcing anybody to marry at the age of 15 but if somebody is willing, they should be legally supported.”