Former High Court Registrar Mohamed Zubair has called on the Presidential Task Force on One Country One Law to recommend the abolition of Kathi courts.

Zubair said he was requesting because he saw the long-standing injustice to Muslim women.

Mr Zubair made this request when the Presidential Task Force for One Country One Law met at the Kandy District Secretariat for public consultation.

Mr Zubair said he had come to comment voluntarily, adding that he was recalling his tragic 40 years of experience in the judiciary. Various NGOs, various ethnic groups, professional organizations as well as the general public represented the committee.

Mr Zubair told the task force that Muslim marriage and divorce law and polygamy, as well as religious divisions, should be banned. In most cases, the trial in Kathi courts is conducted by a Kathi who is not a lawyer. There are times when a Kathi will not be able to correctly identify legal documents and non-legal documents.

Therefore, there have been many instances where the correct judgment has not been imparted with due diligence and impartiality, as well as instances where the judgments rendered by the court have not been enforced. Mr Mohammed said the abolition of the court system would allow the girl as well as her parents to seek justice in maintenance cases.