Chhattisgarh HC nullifies Sharia tribunal’s divorce order, says bodies aren’t courts

The Chhattisgarh High Court has struck down a divorce order that was issued by a Sharia tribunal, declaring that such private religious bodies do not have the authority of a court. The bench emphasized that the Constitution reserves the power of adjudication to statutory courts, and any private entity cannot claim judicial status. The petition challenging the Sharia order argued that the decree violated procedural safeguards and the rights of the parties involved. In its judgment, the court clarified that while personal laws may guide community practices, they cannot replace the formal legal system for dispute resolution. The ruling underscores the separation of religious adjudication from the formal judiciary in India.