... The National Commission for Women's public hearings of Muslim women, held throughout the country in 1998-99, have revealed that, by and large, these women receive very little relief under the 1986 Act ...

This survey has reflected several lacunae/gaps in the 1986 Act which throw up three vital questions for consideration:

i)... The amount and duration of maintenance payable to a divorced wife:

ii) Maintenance for children until attainment of majority or only for two years afterbirth, as provided in the 1986 Act;

iii) Burden of maintenance left to the relatives and the Wakf Boards.

.. The Muslim Women's Forum met at New Delhi on 23 August, 2000 to deliberate upon the issues concerning Muslim women ... The Forum resolved that it was time that these women spoke about matters that concerned their lives. The Forum decided to act as a pressure group of individuals, across the country, to give Muslim women a voice. It further resolved that it would not be willing to accept anything less than what has truly been given to Muslim women in their religion ...

Upon such deliberations, the Forum resolved to appeal to you with an earnest request to intervene and cause your government to bring a legislation in Parliament to extend to Muslim women all such rights and entitlements that are their legitimate due in line with the true Quranic injunctions and constitutional guarantees ..