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From: raj@purdue.UUCP (Rajendra S Yavatkar)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.india,net.religion,net.politics,net.legal
Subject: Re: Muslim Personal Law " shariat "
Message-ID: <524@mordred.purdue.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 12-Mar-86 13:57:06 EST
Article-I.D.: mordred.524
Posted: Wed Mar 12 13:57:06 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Mar-86 05:43:35 EST
References: <3040@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Department of Computer Science, Purdue University
Lines: 34
Xref: watmath net.nlang.india:1155 net.religion:9672 net.politics:13894 net.legal:3099
Summary: Are we a truely secular Democracy?


	First I would like to point out that the Gandhi cabinet has
	given in to the exigencies of politics and introduced a new bill
	titled ``Muslim Women Divorce Bill'' which would effectively
	render the Supreme Court judgment ineffective. Arif Mohamad khan
	(central cabinet minister) resigned in protest against the Government's
	decision.

	Since we claim to be a secular democracy, I think the rights of
	an individual should be held higher than the rules dictated by 
	religious leaders. The minorities in our country do deserve 
	protection against discrimination. This can be ensured by making
	due provisions in the constitution as has been done in case of
	Harijans.

	But the muslim personal law goes against the princilpes on which
	our constitution has been based. It has hindered the process
	of integrating moslims with rest of the population and has
	benefited unscrupulous politicians and religious leaders like
	Shahi Imam who foment hatred for their personal benefit.

	To achieve the goal of building up a secular state, we first
	need to follow a uniform personal code which would be applicable
	to all Indian citizens, irrespective of which caste, creed or faith
	they belong to.
	Otherwise we soon will have 10 personal codes satisfying 10 different
	faiths which would only accelerate the process of disintegration.

	I would like to request the netters to take up the following
	question for discussion:

	Is(n't) it possible to have a truly secular constitution (devoid of
	any religion based personal codes) and still protect the rights
	of the minorities?