Kapil Sibal explains difference between justice and judgment at the launch ceremony
Pervez Bari | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) launched “The Journal of Law and Religious Affairs” with the release of the first edition of the journal here at an impressive ceremony at the India International Centre in the presence of prominent Muslim clerics and legal luminaries.
In his introductory remark, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, General Secretary of the AIMPLB, called “The Journal of Law and Religious Affairs” a documentary on law, which he said was the most important need of human society in this age of lawlessness.
He further said, “There are people of different views in the society but it is the law that compels them to establish justice in the society.”
The purpose of Islamic law, he said, is to create an atmosphere of justice and peace in the society. Unity in diversity is the special identity of this country and if one religion and one civilization are imposed on the entire population, it will affect all aspects of the country. He asked what if the government decides what to eat, what to wear, when to get married which is not the government’s job.
Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, Secretary of the AIMPLB and Rector of Jamea Tul Hidayat, Jaipur, pointing out the state of justice in the country, said it was the most difficult task for ordinary citizens in India to get justice. The judicial struggle becomes even more difficult, especially if the state and its affiliates are active against minorities.
He said that the law requires that justice should be done to every person who is on the verge of death. “Today’s need is for us to gain legal awareness.”
The saying, “ignorance of the law is no excuse”, applies to the common man. Knowing the law and knowing the solution, everyone can defend himself and fight against injustice in the society.
Speaking on the occasion as Guest of Honour, Kapil Sibal, former Union Minister for Justice and Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, explained the difference between justice and judgment, and said that the Journal of the AIMLB would play a key role in ensuring justice.
Elaborating on the difference between justice and judgment, he said, “Decisions are made here (in a court of law), not justice. This journal would play an important role in coordinating justice and decision making. The law is for the society and the society keeps on changing and therefore the law also needs to be changed. The court is not familiar with the transformation of society, but such a research journal would act as a bridge between the court and society.
He said that the Parliament could make a law, but the Supreme Court decides whether the law is valid or not. “Everyone has a different understanding of the law, and when I read the law something new comes to the fore,” he said.
“History tells us that the law has changed and it is not a stone’s throw away.”
As for the understanding of law, he said it is necessary to understand the law and what the need of the society is at that time at the time of its making. Since the law is made for the society and if it is not in accordance with the society, the society will not accept it.
Renowned lawyer Sanjay Hegde, acknowledging the importance of the role of the journal of AIMPLB in understanding the law, said the journal would play a significant role in creating an understanding of the Muslim community law. Every citizen here has an equal right and protest is a democratic right of every citizen, he stressed.
Maulana Asghar Imam Mehdi Salafi, Ameer of Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadith, said that the law means implementation of the law in the true sense and the law can be enforced only by obeying the law. He urged the AIMPLB to take up the issues in a civilized manner wherever such a situation exists.
Syed Sadatullah Hussaini, president of Jamaat-e-Islami India, emphasizing dialogue between different communities, said that this magazine would play a key role in this direction.
Maulana Syed Ali Naqvi, Founder member of AIMPLB, said that we are proud of our democratic country and the minorities and backward classes are attached to the law but the powerful class takes their rights by force. He has got up but he still has faith in the court.
M R Shamshad, Editor of the journal and an advocate in the Supreme Court, emphasizing on legal awareness, said that the scholars are not aware of what happens in the court. Therefore, translations of important decisions of the court should be made public.
The function was organised by Qasim Rasool Ilyas while Kamal Farooqi proposed a vote of thanks.
