Article 14 of the Constitution of India provides equality before the law or equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
It states: “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.”
Article 14 holds a vitally important place in Fundamental Rights as well.
Fundamental rights apply universally to all citizens, irrespective of race, birthplace, religion, caste or gender. The Indian Penal Code and other laws prescribe punishments for the violation of these rights, subject to the discretion of the judiciary.
Right to equality(Article 14-18) is one of the six fundamental rights in the Indian constitution. Which clearly says “Every citizen from Prime Minister to an ordinary man, is subjected to the same law.” But here is a twist and the twist is called “All India Muslim Personal Law Board“.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board(AIMPLB) is a non-government organisation constituted in 1973 to adopt suitable strategies for the protection and continued applicability of Muslim Personal Law in India, most importantly, the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937. This law deals with marriage, succession, inheritance, and charities among Muslims. These laws are not applicable to Muslims who married under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
The Board presents itself as the leading body of Muslim opinion in India, a role for which it has been criticized as well as supported, All India Muslim Personal Law Board was set up during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s time.
However, some of the Shias and Muslim Feminists have formed their own separate boards, the All India Shia Personal Law Board and the All India Muslim Women’s Personal Law Board, respectively but have failed to win any significant support from the Muslims or the government.
And The establishment of this personal body called “AIMPLB” raises some questions in other people conscious and the questions are:
Are they not citizens of India? And if they are, do they not trust the Constitution of India? Are they above the Constitution?
These questions clearly show how secular India is as far as a “Peace-Loving Religion” breaks the law. But if Hindus do the same, It won’t take more than 5 minutes to become India a Communal Nation.
Image Source- The Hindu