Allahabad high court takes cognizance of PIL against ‘Hindu courts’

The Allahabad high court on Tuesday took cognizance of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking its intervention against the constitution of ‘Hindu courts’ on the pattern of Sharia courts in several districts of western Uttar Pradesh and asked the counsel for the state government to apprise it of the matter on the next date of hearing.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice DB Bhosale and justice Yashwant Varma asked the petitioner, Ankit Singh, to implead the district magistrate of Meerut and Dr Puja Sakun Pandey, first judge of the ‘Hindu court’, and also issued a notice seeking their response. The court has fixed September 11 as the next date of hearing.

The petitioner, who belongs to Kanpur, has filed the PIL on the basis of newspaper reports which claimed that locals in western UP have decided to constitute ‘Hindu courts’ in every district on the lines of the Sharia system.

As per media reports, a Hindu outfit decided to come up with these courts as they believe that the government, both in the state and the Centre, has failed to implement the laws needed for quick disposal of pending cases in the regular courts. These ‘Hindu courts’, according to them, could resolve cases and disputes involving Hindus.

Attorney general Manish Goel appeared on behalf of the state government.

First Published: Aug 22, 2018 00:36 IST