New Delhi: Nearly a decade after declaring instant divorce through triple talaq unconstitutional and void, Supreme Court Thursday agreed to examine the validity of blatant discrimination of Muslim women in property inheritance under the 90-year-old Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi sought responses from the law and minority affairs ministries on a PIL by Lucknow-based Paulomi Pavini Shukla, who through advocate Prashant Bhushan, said the right of equal inheritance cannot be denied to 10 million Muslim women, both in intestate and testamentary succession.”The right to inherit properties is not an essential religious practice and is a civil right, which cannot discriminate between Muslim men and women.” He said he personally favoured enactment of UCC as Muslim men get the lion’s share of properties in inheritance. Muslim women cannot even write a ‘will’ to give their self-acquired properties as per their wishes. SC said, “UCC has nothing to do with religion, and its enactment is a constitutional ambition. The Special Marriage Act and Juvenile Justice Act are steps towards UCC. But these are primarily legislative exercises,” Bhusan said.Last year, SC had entertained a PIL by a Muslim woman, Sufiya P M, who is also the general secretary of an organisation ‘Ex-Muslims of Kerala’, seeking to be governed by the Indian Succession Act to escape the women-discriminatory Sharia law.In her PIL, Shukla said enactment of UCC by Uttarakhand has created another dichotomy for Muslim women, as those residing in the hill state would be entitled to an equal share in their parents’ properties, but the rest in other states would not be entitled to this treatment. SC said Shukla’s stand would get increased legitimacy if some of the women who suffered such unequal treatment joined as parties to the PIL.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Never Be Forgiven’: PM Modi Dares Opposition On Women Quota Bill, Priyanka Gandhi Questions Timing‘Won’t Reduce South’s Share’: Amit Shah Clarifies On Delimitation, Calls Oppn Claims ‘Misleading’Hal’s Light Utility Helicopter Explained: Specs, Altitude Edge And Why It Matters‘PM Modi Only Flag Bearer Of Feminism’: Kangana Ranaut Targets Congress Over Women Quota Bill In Lok SabhaPM Modi, French President Macron Stress Urgent Need To Restore Hormuz Safety During Phone Call’If Chanakya Were Alive…’: Priyanka Gandhi’s Swipe At Amit Shah Over Delimitation, Women QuotaNo More Russian Oil Waiver: What The US Decision Means For India’s Energy Needs Amid West Asia CrisisAustria’s Chancellor Calls India Key Partner, Pushes India-EU Trade Deal Amid Global TurmoilLok Sabha Erupts As Sawant Names Sengar, Brij Bhushan; Dubey Hits Back With Aaditya Thackeray Claim‘Not A Backdoor Exercise’: Tejasvi Surya Counters Opposition On Delimitation, Flags Representation Risks123PhotostoriesExclusive – Kiku Sharda opens up about his kids’ reaction to his female roles, Sunil Grover’s talent, and his bond with Kapil Sharma5 Japanese food rituals that could fix your eating habits instantly5 Signs of high emotional intelligence that instantly set you apart from others5 things couples do before calling it quitsWhy your heirloom Kanjeevaram saree feels so different from a modern silk shirt8 most unusual monkeys in the world: From capuchins to mandrillsStep inside Chris Gayle’s ₹20 crore lavish Jamaica mansion with private nightclub, infinity pools and unbelievable ocean views!‘Are we eating all our mangoes’: Why despite being the largest producer of mangoes, India is able to export just 1 percentGold vs lab-grown diamonds: What should you really buy this Akshaya Tritiya?Top 5 posh residential areas in Gurugram for premium living123Hot PicksIran warDisney layoffsPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTCS NashikPune Harassment NewsVaranasi Woman DeathLucknow Vikas Nagar Fire IncidentAmir HamzaUP Beggar MurderBengaluru Businessman NewsGurgaon Student SuicideGunika KhuranaJaisalmer Murder
New Delhi: Nearly a decade after declaring instant divorce through triple talaq unconstitutional and void, Supreme Court Thursday agreed to examine the validity of blatant discrimination of Muslim women in property inheritance under the 90-year-old Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi sought responses from the law and minority affairs ministries on a PIL by Lucknow-based Paulomi Pavini Shukla, who through advocate Prashant Bhushan, said the right of equal inheritance cannot be denied to 10 million Muslim women, both in intestate and testamentary succession.“The right to inherit properties is not an essential religious practice and is a civil right, which cannot discriminate between Muslim men and women.” He said he personally favoured enactment of UCC as Muslim men get the lion’s share of properties in inheritance. Muslim women cannot even write a ‘will’ to give their self-acquired properties as per their wishes. SC said, “UCC has nothing to do with religion, and its enactment is a constitutional ambition. The Special Marriage Act and Juvenile Justice Act are steps towards UCC. But these are primarily legislative exercises,” Bhusan said.Last year, SC had entertained a PIL by a Muslim woman, Sufiya P M, who is also the general secretary of an organisation ‘Ex-Muslims of Kerala’, seeking to be governed by the Indian Succession Act to escape the women-discriminatory Sharia law.In her PIL, Shukla said enactment of UCC by Uttarakhand has created another dichotomy for Muslim women, as those residing in the hill state would be entitled to an equal share in their parents’ properties, but the rest in other states would not be entitled to this treatment. SC said Shukla’s stand would get increased legitimacy if some of the women who suffered such unequal treatment joined as parties to the PIL.
