Ruling of the Supreme Court of India: Divorced Muslim women can claim maintenance under secular law

Activist Zakia Soman, founder of non-profit organisation Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, stated that this judgement is progressive and would help end legal discrimination against Muslim women in the areas of marriage and divorce. “Maintenance is an important issue in every woman's life. The judgement is progressive and widens the scope for Muslim women to get maintenance like any other women. During the Iddat period (the period after dissolution of marriage or death of her husband), there is a 90-day maintenance period. However, under Section 125 of the CrPc, she is entitled to claim maintenance for as long as she needs it. This is a very good judgement as many cases heard in the family court are about maintenance.”