Madras High Court: While examining the validity of certificates issued by the Kazis in the country in general and in Tamil Nadu in particular in respect of Talaq, the Division Bench of Sanjay Kishan Kaul, C.J., and M.M. Sundresh, J., held that for purposes of the courts and legal proceedings, the certificate in respect of Talaq issued by Chief Kazi is only an opinion and has no legal sanctity in view Section 4 of the Kazis Act, 1880 according to which the office of Kazi does not confer on the person any judicial or administrative power.
The Court further allowed the Muslim Personal Law Board to take some time to clarify the format in which these certificates are to be issued and asked Board to submit before it a new format which may remove the ambiguity before ant legal forum and which would be made open to stakeholders for suggestions. In the meantime no Talaq certificate by Muslim Personal Law Board can be issued as an opinion of Chief Kazi.
The instant writ petition was supported by the Women Lawyers Association. It was prayed before the Court to forbear the Kazis from issuing Talaq certificates and other documents certifying or approving Talaq. It was also contended that the certificates so issued are causing immense confusion in the matrimonial proceedings and also in the understanding by the spouses as to the effect of such a certificate being issued by the Chief Kazi. [Bader Sayeed v. Union Of India, 2017 SCC OnLine Mad 74, decided on 10/01/2017]
