Thu Jan 30 13:09:02 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Seeks Centre’s View on Muslim Personal Law in Property Disputes
**New Delhi** – The Supreme Court of India has sought the central government’s response on whether Muslims can opt out of Sharia law in matters of inheritance. The query arises from a petition filed by Safiya PM from Kerala, who wishes to bequeath her property to her daughter according to the Indian Succession Act, rather than Muslim personal law. Safiya, who identifies as non-practicing Muslim, argues that the current exclusion of Muslims from the Indian Succession Act is discriminatory.
The Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, has given the Centre four weeks to file a reply, with the next hearing scheduled for May 5th. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta described the case as “very interesting.”
This case unfolds amidst ongoing national debate surrounding a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). While criminal laws are uniform, personal laws governing inheritance, adoption, and succession vary across religious communities. Supporters of a UCC, such as the ruling BJP, advocate for common civil laws for all citizens, citing equality. Opponents, however, express concerns that a UCC would infringe on religious freedoms and threaten India’s diverse cultural fabric.
The timing is significant, following Uttarakhand’s recent implementation of a UCC, becoming the first state to enact such legislation. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami hailed this as a historic move promoting equal rights regardless of caste, religion, or gender. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also recently highlighted the Supreme Court’s past pronouncements on a common civil code in his Independence Day address. The Supreme Court’s intervention in this case is likely to further fuel the national conversation on the complexities and potential implications of a UCC in India.
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