All personal laws related to women should be equal across all religions: NCW chief Rekha Sharma

After the Supreme Court ruled on June 10 that a Muslim woman is entitled to claim maintenance after divorce, National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma welcomed the decision and stated that all personal laws related to women should be equal across all religions.

Speaking to ANI, Rekha Sharma said, "I always say that women's rights should be universal and not determined based on religion. All personal laws related to women should be equal across all religions. Under the Hindu Marriage Act, you get alimony after divorce, so why should a Muslim woman not get it? I welcome what the Supreme Court has said."

The Supreme Court on June 10 ruled that a divorced Muslim woman is entitled to seek maintenance from her husband under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), asserting that any discrimination against Muslim women in matters of alimony under the secular laws of the country would be regressive and against gender justice and equality.

Earlier, the NCW chief wholeheartedly welcomed the Supreme Court's landmark ruling, stating that the decision is a significant step towards ensuring gender equality and justice for all women, regardless of their religion.

The NCW Chairperson emphasised that the decision reinforces the principle that no woman should be left without support and protection under the law.

The NCW remains committed to advocating for women's rights and ensuring that justice prevails for every woman in India, she emphasised.

Rekha Sharma also addressed the "lewd" comment incident that occurred earlier regarding a picture of the widow of Kirti Chakra recipient Captain Anshuman Singh.

NCW chief Rekha Sharma said, "It was a very derogatory comment that we saw on social media, and we immediately took suo motu cognizance of it. The police have filed an FIR against this person. However, the individual is most likely from Pakistan."

"Many such comments are being made, and we are taking those comments very seriously and urging the police to file FIRs in those cases as well," she added.

Delhi Police acknowledged the National Commission for Women's (NCW) letter to the Delhi Commissioner of Police, demanding the arrest of the man and submission of a detailed report to the panel within three days.

The police said a complaint was received from the National Commission for Women, alleging that a social media user had made an extremely lewd and derogatory comment on a picture of the widow of a late soldier.

Taking cognizance of the complaint and after a preliminary examination of its contents, a case FIR under Sections 79, BNS-2023, and Section 67 of the IT Act 2000 has been registered at the Police Station Special Cell, and an investigation is underway.

Captain Anshuman Singh, a doctor, was posted with the 26 Punjab as a medical officer in the Siachen Glacier area. On the night of July 19, 2023, there was a fire incident at an Indian Army ammunition dump at the camp where he was posted.

Captain Singh saw a fibreglass hut engulfed in fire and immediately acted to rescue four to five individuals trapped inside. He went inside the medical investigation room, which was also on fire, to retrieve the critical medical aid box but could not make it out due to heavy fire amid strong winds. He was awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously.

Captain Singh's wife, Smriti, and his mother received the award from President Droupadi Murmu.