Kerala to probe functioning religious courts

Appropriate legal action would be taken if the Popular Front of India's committees were found to be violating the law, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told the assembly.

Balakrishnan said it had come to government's notice that certain committees headed by religious authorities by the name 'Dar-ul Khada' were functioning to resolve civil disputes of Muslim community but no complaint had been received that they were passing "Taliban model orders".

As per information, PFI, whose activists are accused of attacking lecturer T J Joseph for preparing a question paper with alleged derogatory reference to Prophet Mohammed, had 20 "feeder organisations", he said.

The PFI claims that a committee, headed by an Imam Council, to resolve personal disputes of the community was functioning with the recognition of the Muslim Personal Law Board, he said.

The Minister was replying to a submission of Aryadan Muhammed (Cong) who sought a ban on the operation of "Taliban model parallel courts" in the state.

Advocating strong action against PFI, Muhammed said the government should take serious note of media reports about the functioning of such courts in the state.

Muhammed said PFI, National Development Front and PDP of Abdul Naser Madhani belonged to same category of outfits and should be opposed.

Madhani was an accused in the 1997 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case that claimed 58 lives but was acquitted later. He also under the scanner of Karnataka police for suspected involvement in the July 2008 Bangalore serial blasts.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had said last week that PFI was aiming at "Islamisation of Kerala" and stood by his remarks in the assembly yesterday.