'Succession law, not Shariat': Woman wants to be governed by former, SC asks Centre's stand

Petitioner Safiya PM is general secretary of "Ex-Muslims of Kerala"

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked for the Centre's stand on a Muslim woman's plea seeking to be governed by the Indian succession law instead of Shariat.

The plea of Safiya PM, general secretary of "Ex-Muslims of Kerala", and hailing from Alappuzha, came up before a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said the plea raised an interesting question.

"The petitioner lady is a born Muslim. She says she does not believe in Shariat and she thinks it is a regressive law," he said. "This will," observed the bench, "run across faith. You will have to file a counter affidavit."