Date:05/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/05/stories/2005020513251300.htm

National

Maintenance to Muslim woman ordered

ALLAHABAD, FEB. 4. The Allahabad High Court has directed a Muslim to pay Rs. 1,000 as maintenance to his estranged wife, saying Muslim women cannot be discriminated against.

Justice S.N. Srivastava said the Constitution mandated that there could not be any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or religion. The Hindu law provided for maintenance in such cases and Muslim women were also, therefore, entitled to it under the Constitution, the judge said, directing the man, Islam, to pay Rs. 1,000 a month as maintenance to his estranged wife, Fatima.

The court, he ruled, could grant interim maintenance to them despite the fact that there was no such specific provision under the Muslim law. — PTI