Former High Court Registrar Zubair asks Presidential Task Force to abolish Quasi Courts

Mohamed Zubair, a former High Court Registrar, requested the Presidential Task Force for ‘One Country, One Law' to recommend the abolition of Quasi Courts.

A statement from the President’s Media said that Zubair was making this request after witnessing the injustice caused to Muslim women.

He made this request when the Presidential Task Force for ‘One Country, One Law' met at the Kandy District Secretariat on Sunday for public consultations.

Zubair said that he came to express his views voluntarily and added that he makes this request by recalling the unfortunate incidents he experienced during his 40 years of judicial service. Individuals representing various voluntary organizations, different communities, professional organisations as well as the general public presented their views and suggestions to the Committee.

Zubair emphasised before the Task Force that the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act and the polygamy concept, as well as the establishment of organisations based on different sections of a religion should be banned. In most cases, the trials at Quasi Courts are conducted by a Quasi who is not a lawyer in profession. There are some instances where a Quasi will not be able to properly identify legal documents and non-legal documents. Therefore, there have been many occasions where the correct judgment has not been given with due diligence and impartiality, as well as instances where the judgments given by the court have not been enforced. Zubair said that the abolition of this court system would allow the relevant woman as well as the parents to receive justice in maintenance cases.

Zubair said the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Law leads to serious social and legal injustices, adding that maintenance cases currently under the Quasi system could be settled by the Magistrates' Court and divorce cases at the District Court in a fair and impartial manner. Zubair said that the right to polygamy should also be abolished, and explained the reasons for this by quoting verses from the Quran. 

Zubair said that the Quran states that religion should not be divided into sects, adding that allowing such opportunities could lead to the formation of various extremist organisations.

It is the responsibility of the Presidential Task Force, chaired by Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, to study the views and opinions of various factions on the implementation of the concept of 'One Country, One Law' in Sri Lanka and make proposals.

The Task Force previously visited the Northern and Eastern Provinces and sought the views of the people. Different organisations and individuals visiting from across the country also expressed their views at the Task Force office located at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo.  

More views of the people of the Central Province were sought yesterday as well as in the Nuwara Eliya District. 

Chairman of the Task Force Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, and its members, including Prof. Shanthi Nandana Wijesinghe, Senior Lecturer Sumedha Weerawardena, Northern/Eastern Provincial Coordinating Sub-Committee Chairman Dr. Jeevaka Bandara, Attorney-at-Law Sanjaya Marambe, Pani Wewala and Eranda Nawarathne were present. 

Anyone who wishes to express their views before the Task Force can schedule a date and time by calling the telephone number mentioned below. The Secretary to the Task Force/Senior Assistant Secretary to the President Jeevanthie Senanayake said that comments can also be made via post or e-mail. 

Office telephone No: - 011 2691775. 

Office address - Room No: 3G-19, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07. 

Email: [email protected]