Hyderabad: The Telangana State Wakf Board is making yet another attempt to stop the exorbitant charging by Qazis.
Following complaints of Qazis collecting abnormally high fees for performing their obligatory duties, the board has again asked the Qazis to take only the charges fixed by it for solemnizing marriages and other tasks. The board has asked the Qazis to collect Rs 1,800 from the bridegroom and Rs 1,200 from the bride for solemnizing the marriage.
The Anjuman-e-Qazath (Council of Qazis) had previously fixed these charges. Previous attempts of the board to fix the fees proved futile with the various Qazis flatly refusing to adhere to the board directive arguing that it did not have powers to ask them to do so.
Mohd Saleem, chairman, Telangana State Wakf Board, said the board was receiving several complaints from the public about Qazis demanding and forcing people to pay more money than the prescribed fee. “Marriage is an auspicious occasion we agree. But that does not entitle any Qazi to demand huge money from poor families,” Saleem said.
The board has also sought help from the Qazis in resolving marriage disputes. “Time and again we see Qazis are hurrying with the ‘Talaaq’ or ‘Qulab’ process without giving parties ample time to resolve the issue. It should not be the case and emphasis should be on resolving the small disputes so that the marriage stays,” Saleem said.
The board asked the Qazis to ensure that they come early and solemnize the ‘nikaah’ to see the marriage programme ends by midnight. “People are hanging around till early hours the next day at the function halls after marriage; it is setting a wrong precedent,” Saleem said, adding that soon a meeting of religious scholars would also be held to prevail upon the community to help put an end to late-night extravaganza at marriages.