SC wants simpler ‘Nikahnamas,’ knowledgeable registrars

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the government to simplify Nikahnamas and ensure that nikah registrars are qualified, knowledgeable and persons of integrity to preserve the rights of the bride and groom in a marriage.

- Tariq Butt

The direction was contained in a judgment which was authored by Justice Athar Minallah, who was part of a three-judge bench that heard appeals filed by a man and woman who disagreed over the provisions of dower mentioned in the Nikahnama.

Fakhra Jabeen, the woman, filed an appeal against the Dec.13, 2021, verdict of the Lahore High Court (LHC), which held that entries in the Nikahnama must always be interpreted in favour of the groom because he has to bear the burden of the liabilities recorded in the contract.

In the 22-page judgement, Justice Minallah regretted the large number of disputes reaching the Supreme Court over the interpretation of entries recorded in Nikahnamas.